"ICE"

by 

Butch S Seal 

						Writer's Guild Of America
						Registration No.
						934246
FADE IN ON:

EXT. ANTARCTIC PENINSULA – MORNING

Sheets of ice float over the vast expanse of water that sparkles under the early morning sunshine. Suddenly -- 

A sophisticated and streamlined fighter jet BREAKS through the silence, HISSING past us, and descending rapidly towards –-

EXT. USS TIGUANA

As the fighter jet approaches, we take in the full magnitude of the naval aircraft carrier on which it will land. It's big. The fighter not only pales in to insignificance as it touches down on the flight deck where a bevy of military aircraft are stationed, but the undercarriage reveals an enormous aerofoil in place of the hull. Majestic and monstrous, we are witnessing military technology of a highly advanced era.

Super: USS Tiguana, Antarctic Peninsula

CAMERA PULLS OUT of the plane as it draws to a standstill to reveal -

EXT. FLIGHT DECK

BILL KNIGHT, a leather-skinned man whose face is etched with the scars of a lifetime in combat. Fists clenched, he stands tensed and ready to commence battle once again. Eyes unflinching, he faces off--

A masked stranger dressed in dark grey. We can see only his eyes through the mask, a look of intensity to match that of his adversary; but these are the eyes of youth. SUDDENLY --

A forward roll, and the masked assailant LUNGES at Bill with a flurry of precision hand movements. Bill back-pedals, relenting the onslaught.

There is a potent fluidity to their battle motions as flat hands SHEATH through the air like steel blades. This is a fighting system known as taijutsu -- and although there is beauty in the ballet, it becomes quickly apparent that this is a martial art-form where any direct contact would deliver lethal and devastating consequences.

Upping the tempo, the masked assailant throws a smoke bomb to the ground –- a crystalline PHUFF! -– as he launches through the air into a spinning round-house; only to be blocked mid-flight and SPUN back round instead.

Bill steps away and rolls his shoulders. His eyes take on a feral intensity and his fists physically enlarge in size. The gaze reads KILLER INSTINCT -- a lion would be intimidated by such a predatory trance.

Fuelled with superhuman speed and UNLEASHING A FEROCIOUS ONSLAUGHT, the masked stranger is torn apart as for every one move he blocks, five of Bill's blows penetrate and hit their mark.

A SQUARE KICK to the midriff and the masked stranger is sent HURTLING through the air, CRASHING in to a wooden box –- releasing plankton, sea urchins and various other sea oddities.

Floored and battered, the winded stranger breathes hard to signal defeat. Bill offers his hand. The stranger declines, hoarding himself up. The stranger removes his mask and salutes -- his nose bleeding badly.

BILL
Need to work on that jab.

JACK
I could say the same to you sir.

Raising an eyebrow, Bill takes out a pantella and lights it with a gold coloured match-stick. An upstanding and honourable military man, Bill will not be not humoured easily -- not even by his son.

JACK KNIGHT is a young mild mannered cadet following in his father's footsteps.

Bill moves aside as an older cadet comes up to clean and plug Jack's bloody nose.

JACK
Hey, what do you think you're doing!?!

TYLER
I'm doing what every good marine was trained for -- I'm cleaning up the mess.

One of Bill's junior pilots, TYLER BELL oozes Texan charm and has a mischievous glint in his eye that endears him to all he meets.

JACK
C'mon, leave it. It's just a scratch -- I always get them.

TYLER
And somebody has to get rid off them.

JACK
And that somebody's you I suppose? You're just trying to win brownie points off my old man.

TYLER
And you and those buddies of yours won't be getting anymore of those magazines if you don't stop acting the smart-ass.

JACK
(changing his tune)
You missed a bit.

Bill walks back over.

TYLER
(to Jack)
You were almost in the zone kid. Another couple of weeks and you'll kung-po your pup's ass no problems.

BILL
You're a knuckle-head Bell.

TYLER
(smiles as ever)
It takes years of practice and dedication sir.

BILL
(taking a moment to reflect)
I'm sending you up in the DX7 this afternoon. Go get briefed in the CT simulator.

TYLER
(shocked)
You want me up in a DX7?

BILL
You want the ride lieutenant, or do you want me to pass it over to Boston?

TYLER
(sarcastic)
Let me sleep on it and I'll let you know in the morning.

BILL
Get out of here before you change my mind!

TYLER
Sir, yes sir!

Jack is as chuffed for Tyler by the news, as Tyler struts away down the flight deck.

BILL
Let me look at that.

JACK
It's fine.

With Tyler gone, Bill completely relaxes his composure around Jack. In one instance he has transformed from a hard-core military commanding officer into an affectionate and doting father.

BILL
(cleansing the blood stains)
Tyler's right, you’re growing stronger by the day. You'll be teaching me those moves if you carry on progressing at this rate.

JACK
Right.

BILL
(suddenly all emotional)
Your mother and I always knew you would make a fine officer one day.

JACK
Sure.

BILL
(verge of tears)
Listen Jack, I received some news from Virginia a few hours ago. It's about your mother.

JACK
What's happened? What is it?

BILL
(tearful)
Please, this is hard enough as it is --

JACK
What is it? What's happened to mum? Tell me!

Bill wipes the last blood off Jack's face.

BILL
It's just that -- it's just she wants to know what you want for dinner this weekend?

A smile cracks across Bill's face, as Jack realises he's been suckered for a fool.

JACK
You are one sick old man!

Jack pushes past him, but even he cannot prevent a small smirk creeping across his face. Military humour, it's sick and it stinks.

Walking away, Jack passes a senior military officer --

JACK
Hey Felix.

FELIX
Heard your father kicked your ass again Jack?

Jack waves his hand as if to say "PAH" to Felix.

BILL
(shouting to Jack)
-- and get back here after lunch to see the training demo...

Jack acknowledges. A plane takes off in b.g., as Felix salutes Bill on arrival. Bill is not bothered and fussed by such formalities. Felix knows this -- he is simply taking the piss like he always does.

Although dressed in military stripes, Felix is more of an administrator these days than he is a soldier. We know this by the size of his portly waistline.

FELIX
Go ahead and ask me.

BILL
Did we get clearance?

FELIX
Does the pope shit in the woods?

Bill laughs.

FELIX (cont'd)
I have just been authorised and arranged clearance for us to use the cream of Uncle Sam's fighting machines for training operations –-

BILL
Good, because I've already allocated one of the rides.

FELIX
Then you'll also be glad to know we can train these second grade sons of bitches 'til further notice.

BILL
Indefinitely, eh? And you didn’t have to blow anyone.

FELIX
Just the vice admiral. What time do you want to start rounding them up?

BILL
After lunch. What the --

Beside an army helicopter, a small congregation of personnel are gathered around two men in the throes of a fight.

Junior pilot TOM FINCHER is slowly dismantling a flight mechanic bone-by-bone. A simple soul, the battered and bruised mechanic takes the beating without looking up once at his aggressor.

Fincher commands a similar presence to that of a playground ringleader. A tall soldier with a square jaw, you can almost read the words "DON'T FUCK WITH ME" etched on his skull.

Bill strolls over as Fincher toys with the mechanic like a ragdoll.

BILL
What the hell's going on here?

FINCHER
(standing to attention)
Nothing to trouble you with sir. We were having a minor disagreement, that's all.

Bill inspects the flight mechanic who stands and sways on the spot –- oblivious and disorientated. Felix leads the injured mechanic away.

BILL
You call that a minor disagreement?

FINCHER
This man has a problem with authority.

BILL
This man's deaf you jack-off! 

FINCHER
Then he shouldn’t be onboard this vessel.

Bill steps up to Fincher. Fincher towers over him. Felix returns and Jack joins him in the b.g. You could cut the tension with a sharp knife.

BILL
And that's your call to make, is it lieutenant?... So what did our good officer friend do to deserve a good old-fashioned Fincher ass-whipping? Did he refuse to lick your helmet clean again lieutenant?

FINCHER
I refuse to answer that.

BILL
And why would you choose to do that?

FINCHER
Because it's none of your goddamn business sir!

BILL
And that's where you're wrong lieutenant, because as commanding officer on this carrier I'm making it my business. And if you're stupid enough to think this is going away because you say so -- then you're sadly mistaken.

FINCHER
Request to speak to the admiral --
 
BILL
Request denied -- you'll speak to me.

FINCHER
I beg to differ.

BILL
Oh you do, do you? Then let's settle this the way you settle all disputes.

CRACK! Bill kicks out with lightning speed -- hooking straight into Fincher's jaw. Fincher stumbles back, collapsing against the door of the chopper.

A distinguished officer approaches the scene. 

LEONARD
Fincher! Go and wait outside my office -- NOW!!

ADMIRAL LEONARD WELLS, the highest ranking officer on the carrier. He carries a golf putter around with him -- the word eccentric springs to mind. Fincher gets himself together and stumbles away, eyeballing Bill as he passes.

BILL
(salutes)
Sir.

They walk.

LEONARD
What just happened back there Bill?

BILL
The kid's becoming too influential amongst the others. He needed to be bought down a peg or two. 

LEONARD
So he knows who's boss?

BILL
The same as it was in our day Leo. These new kids don't seem to respect the chain of command anymore.

LEONARD
And we did? Two LG-MIG's bought down in as many weeks in our first year at training academy and you call that respect?

BILL
Call it a code of honour then.

They smile. Although separated by rank, these men have mutual respect for one another.

LEONARD
You want him out of the academy?

BILL
I've never been a fan of the mavericks Leo -- they don’t work well in teams. But we know from experience how valuable they can be on the day. And when that kid flies solo, I can't deny he's one of the best I've seen.

LEONARD
And who are you to deprive our nation of those skills. This ongoing feud -- I'm worried how it's affecting the other students.

BILL
They're fine. Don’t underestimate their confidence Leo.

LEONARD
I'm responsible for the tax-payers money up there. Don't underestimate mine.

BILL
Leave Fincher with me. I'll break him yet.

The comment jars Leonard -– but Bill fails to notice this.

BILL (cont'd)
Felix got clearance from the pent to use the great whites.

LEONARD
So I hear. What do you have in store?

BILL
Send up two of the young guns and let them rip.

LEONARD
You think they're ready.

BILL
I've already given one of the rides to Bell.

LEONARD
Then give the other to Fincher. 

BILL
I know, but he's --

LEONARD
-- as you say, clearly one of the best you've ever seen. And what better way to tame the beast...

Leonard walks on, leaving Bill to dwell on the subject. He'll go along with the idea -- but he doesn't like it.

INT. SERVICE LEVEL

Fincher walks over to an LSO (Landing Signal Officer) as planes in b.g. ascend on mechanised platforms to the flight deck above.

FINCHER
Which DX7 have I been assigned for my training run this afternoon?

The LSO refers to his broadpad for the information.

LSO
Let me see, Lieutenant T. Fincher –- engineering has calibrated the white on the right to your specifications. Lieutenant Tyler Bell has been assigned the one to your left. Sir.

The LSO moves away as Fincher marvels at the flying beasts facing him. An elite fighter jet, the DX7 looks like a compacted super spy plane from the twentieth century. When air-bound, its appearance gives the impression of a shooting star hence the moniker 'the great white'.

Coast clear -- Fincher clambers onboard Tyler's plane.

INT. COCKPIT

Fincher removes a miniature case from his trouser pocket that contains a REMOTE CONTROL and a SOLENOID UNIT. Attaching the solenoid device to the underside of the joystick, the unit is activated by remote control –- and makes the joystick turn sharply to the right. Testing the system until he is satisfied; Fincher places the remote control back in his pocket and steps off the plane.

INT. SERVICE LEVEL

Tyler walks over as Fincher disembarks.

TYLER
She feel as nice as she looks from the outside?

FINCHER
Have a look for yourself.

TYLER
(pointing right)
I guess she'd be mine then? 

FINCHER
There was no-one around to tell me whose flying which plane. Your guess is as good as mine.

TYLER
I'll go check the list with someone in engineering.

Tyler's nose twitches as he walks away. 

ON FINCHER -– scheming, devious.

EXT. FLIGHT DECK - CONTROL SUBSTATION – DAY

On the side of the runway, Bill and Felix are surrounded by a bank of computer monitors. This is the ICS LINK (Interactive Communication System) that allows them to observe and converse with the pilots in the air. Monitors show the PILOTS' POV and navigational charts, data etc. Jack idles behind them. 

BILL
(over headset)
You're flying state-of-art now, but even great whites have their weaknesses --

EXT. SKY

Tyler and Fincher streak across the sky at twenty thousand feet --

BILL (V.O.)
-- the DX7 is more versatile to pitch and roll than any aircraft you have ever been in gentlemen. This is a training exercise to allow you to get used to her weight and feel. Treat it like one. You are restricted to a maximum acceleration of 16 G's. Exceed this and you'll have me to answer to and remember --
(looks down at monitors)
-- big brother's watching you. Let's take these ACM programs one at a time -- Fincher, you're on!

FINCHER
Copy that, I'm lining up to sequence now.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

BILL
(to Felix)
Switching to autocon -- 
 (over headset)
You've been briefed of her capabilities men. Stay within her limits and enjoy the ride –-
(to Jack)
Watch this.

EXT. SKY

Tyler breaks away from formation leaving Fincher a clear path.

FINCHER
Let's see what you've got.

Shifting his throttle forward and with a BLAST FROM HIS AFTERBURNERS, Fincher rockets away. He breaks right and pulls hard back –- rolling the aircraft through a full revolution -- turning round and heading back the way he came at a higher altitude.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

Felix scrambles away scrutinising positional data and co-ordinates on an A4 sized plasma powerbook in his hands. The touch-screen computer is known as a BROADPAD.

Bill follows the monitor of FINCHER'S POV. Felix closely follows two approaching BLIPS on his broadpad radar --

FELIX
(shaking his head)
He's on a collision course with Bell.

BILL
What are you playing at Fincher?

EXT. SKY

TYLER'S POV -- Fincher bombs directly towards him. A picture of calm, Tyler does not change course -- maintaining his composure. A game of high-stakes chicken!

SWHOOSH! Fincher inverts his plane upside down –- A KNIFE-EDGE PASS over Tyler's DX7 -- passing canopy-to-canopy, missing by millimetres -- spinning horizontal again.

TYLER
(smiling)
It's going to take more than that to rattle me dick-for-brains!

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

Felix mops the sweat from his brow. Bill is unnerved by such antics.

BILL
Enough of the fun and games Fincher. Don't break training protocol again.

FINCHER
(V.O. filtered)
I had her under control.

BILL
Well that's good then -- and never make me repeat myself.

Fincher disapproves -- shakes his head, mumbling under his breath. Bill catches this on his LINK monitor.

BILL (cont'd)
Careful what you mime. I can see your every move -– junior.

INT. FINCHER'S COCKPIT

On his own LINK screen, Fincher looks back to Bill on the flight deck -– "and I can see you too asshole."

Fincher peels right and hits full power. The plane THUNDERS through the sky, BURNERS roost on overdrive.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION 

The data on Felix's broadpad BLIPS LOUDLY -- out of control. Bill looks over to him.

FELIX
He's pushing way over tin.

BILL
(over headset)
Easy on the power.

There is no reply.

EXT. SKY

With a HIGH-PITCHED SCREECH and travelling super-sonic -- Fincher rolls the plane in to a horizontal spin. Woggling his stick from side-to-side, the plane snakes through the air -- silver wings sparkling as they catch the sun.

INT. FINCHER'S COCKPIT

Bill taps on the LINK monitor screen --

FELIX
Will you look at that!

BILL
(on screen)
Are you testing me lieutenant?

The plane sweeps into a level flight. Fincher concedes this battle of wills.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

Felix nods impressively at the data from Fincher's air combat manoeuvres.

FELIX
(dumbfounded)
He's just pulled off a series of stall turns at 17-G's!?!

BILL
Get back to your start position and let's do this properly.

EXT. SKY 

SHROON! Fincher slams the airbrakes and pulls back on the stick. Braking almost to a standstill -- the DX7 half loops rolls -– facing the opposite direction from a higher altitude.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

FELIX
He just performed a deadweight immelman.

BILL
(slams monitor)
Sonofabitch!

FELIX
Shall I reel him in Bill?

BILL
No, keep him up there.

INT. FINCHER'S COCKPIT

Fincher watches Bill shake his head in disbelief upon his LINK monitor. He smiles to himself -- complacent.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

Bill take a contemplative drag on his pantella as he considers the Fincher situation -- but the cigar has long gone out. He discards it. 

BILL
Bell. You're on.

TYLER (V.O.)
Roger that. The sleeping dog has awoken!

EXT. SKY

We WIDEN to reveal the undercarriage of Tyler's aircraft. He banks away –- sloping off to the right. Twisted sideways and gathering speed and momentum –- Tyler snakes the plane on its vertical axis. Not as elaborate as Fincher's moves, impressive nonetheless.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

Bill chews on a match-stick. Cool as ice on the outside -- the chewing would imply otherwise. 

BILL
Don't bleed any speed, keep the motion gentle and let her do the rest --

Felix nods approvingly as the broadpad displays a steady stream of data.

INT. FINCHER'S COCKPIT

Fincher observes his LINK screens which show Bill and Felix preoccupied by Tyler's ACM (Air Combat Manoeuvres).

Fincher carefully removes the remote control device from his pocket and places it on his control panel. He flicks the device on and a scan monitor displays: SEARCHING FREQUENCY. Suddenly --

BILL
(on screen)
You watching this Lieutenant? Bell's giving a text book demonstration in the art of restraint. You could learn a thing or two --

FINCHER
I'm all eyes, sir.

Fincher watches on his LINK screen as Bill moves back to the monitor following Tyler's POV. A close call -– he breathes a sigh of relief.

INT. TYLER'S COCKPIT

Tyler's DX7 zooms into frame --

TYLER
Permission to attempt a gyro-drop from ten thousand?

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

Bill looks to Felix who scans his data.

JACK
(steps forward)
What's a gyro-drop?

BILL
It's a defensive move. Makes the enemy think you've been hit. If you stall, you're a dead man. Watch.

FELIX
Deloris vector conditions are all clear.

BILL
(over headset)
Cleared to engage.

EXT. SKY

Tyler's DX7 rides low to deck, skimming the surface of the sea --

VR-ROOSH! The plane swoops vertical –- thrusters burning a bright phosphorous magnificence.

As Tyler's plane rapidly ascends and climbs to ten thousand feet –-the afterburners cut out.

At the top of the parabolic arc, the plane hangs vertical -- momentarily motionless. 

INT. FINCHER'S COCKPIT 

The scan monitor on the remote control reads: FREQUENCY LOCKED. Fincher presses the activation button and a red diode lights up -–

INT. / EXT. TYLER'S DX7

Tyler looks out of the window as the plane hangs vertical and time stands still.

On the underside of his joystick the solenoid diode activates and the joystick jerks right.

The rudders on the right wing move down and move back again -– but the plane is motionless and there is no adverse reaction.

The joystick moves back to a neutral position. Having let go, Tyler grabs the stick again unaware of the phantom activity.

TYLER
Here we go!

SHEE-OWW! The flying beast falls from the sky like a sack of rice -- hurtling towards earth at startling speed. The G-forces on Tyler are immense as the plane vertically free-falls; nose to air.

TYLER
WHOAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

LONG SHOT of Bill pointing skywards. Jack watches in amazement --

INT. FINCHER'S COCKPIT

Disconcertingly, Fincher places the remote unit back into his pocket. 

EXT. SKY

Just above sea level, the afterburners kick in and Tyler's DX7 flips horizontal -- propelling forward and away.

TYLER
Man, what a rush!

BILL (V.O.)
How's the stomach doing?

TYLER
I think it'll hold --

Tyler looks on the verge of regurgitating with the reorientation and his body spasms. From the side of his mouth, a tiny speck of sick leaks out. He cleans it off with his sleeve –-

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

BILL
That'll make him think twice about lunch before training. 
(to screen)
Fincher, line up alongside Bell. Let's see how you perform in formation.

INT. FINCHER'S COCKPIT

Fincher rides up level with Tyler's DX7.

TYLER (V.O. filtered)
Ha, ha -– I am one smoking son of a gun! Did you see me in action?

FINCHER
You call that action, Bell?

INT. TYLER'S COCKPIT

TYLER
Then show me what steel your sword is made of.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

BILL
Less of the talk soldiers. You know the drill. Engage.

EXT. SKY

With a fierce engine BLAST -- the planes bolt forward. Rolling away from one another -– the horizon appears and disappears as the planes invert.

TYLER
You bugging out on me yet?

FINCHER
Initiating snake and shake.

Simultaneously the aircraft sweep in to a steep incline -– ROCKETING towards space. It's show-time. With a jerk of the sticks -– the planes level off and ascend, level off and ascend -– as if they were climbing a heavenly staircase. They snake through the air in the way dolphins swim to the surface. 

Rolling and levelling off on the edge of space, the pilots look across and exchange glances at each other.

FINCHER
Let's see who bugs out first.

Tyler licks his lips.

The amazing birds suddenly swoop down –- HURTLING on an intensely acute angle –- heading straight for the sea at BREAKNECK SPEEDS. The challenge is set.

The rim of the wings begin to BURN and FLARE -- like an Apollo shuttle re-entering the earth's atmosphere. Warning lights and altimeters go berserk at the rapid loss of height. DIVE-BOMBING at incredible speeds, the planes RATTLE AND SHAKE.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

Felix's fingers fly on the touch-screen as the broadpad goes ballistic with BLIPS and FLASHES.

FELIX
They're pulling over 30 G's!

A puff of grey smoke as Bill lights up another cigar.

EXT. SKY

From UP ABOVE we look down to see the DX7's careering towards the water. INTERCUT BETWEEN pilots –- pinned to their seats, tears streaming with the G-strain. The altimeter drops faster and faster:

7,000... 6,000... 5,000...

EXT. FLIGHT DECK

A silent LONGSHOT as the crew on the flight deck stop work and watch the two mavericks' to see who'll pull up first --

EXT. SKY

POV from the planes on a collision course with the rippling pacific surface when --

EXT. SURFACE OF THE SEA

SCHNIGG (SPLASH AND CRASH)! The nose cone cuts straight through the surface drilling the planes deep into the ocean.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

Silence. Bill takes a long carcinogenic drag –- Jack is wide-eyed, mouth agape. The strange FLUCTUATING TONES and BLIPS of the broadpad rise in volume as --

EXT. SURFACE OF THE SEA

-- with a PNEUMATIC RASP AND HISS both planes jet out, water trickling off their body-work.

INT. COCKPITS

Faces burning red hot from the exchanges of air and water pressure -- the pilots fist congratulations to one another.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

Jack exhales. Bill is unmoved by such stunts having experienced a lifetime of ego.

TYLER (V.O. filtered)
Did the taxman skip a heartbeat?

BILL
Not until you get your butts back to base.

Bill turns away -– session over. Relief.

EXT. SKY

Tyler turns and arcs his plane back round towards base. 

Fincher (plotting) activates the remote unit again -- 

INT. / EXT. TYLER'S DX7

Holding the joystick, Tyler's hand is suddenly YANKED a hard right sending the plane into a FLAT SPIN --

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

BILL
What the --

INT. / EXT. TYLER'S DX7

As the DX7 TWISTS and YAWS to dizzying effect, Tyler manages to engage his reverse thrusters and brings the fighter jet back onto a stable plane.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

INTERCUT THE FOLLOWING:

BILL
What just happened lieutenant?

TYLER
I don't know. The joystick developed a mind of its own!

BILL
Felix?

Felix jams away on his broadpad that displays Tyler's voice patterns.

FELIX
He's telling the truth -- and all his systems are running at optimum performance. The data analysis shows no signs of human error or system failure.

BILL
You think the plane's been tampered with?

The broadpad states: DIAGNOSTIC COMPLETE.

FELIX
(beat)
Yes.

BILL
Understood. Let's not take any chances. Fincher, I want a T.L. escort set up on Bell's DX7 back to base.

FINCHER
Copy that.

BILL
Bell, disable your systems once Fincher has you locked until landing.

INT. TYLER'S COCKPIT

Tyler's nose burns red. He senses danger.

TYLER
Yes sir.
(under his breath)
I got a bad feeling about this.

EXT. SKY

Fincher peels over the egg and sails over Tyler's DX7.

INT. FINCHER'S COCKPIT

FINCHER
Initiating traction beam now.

The AIR SIZZLES as a sonic-wave emits from his undercarriage –- rippling and distorting the air space beaming onto Tyler's tailpipe.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

BILL
Keep your distance Tom. Don't get too close or you'll be sucked into the soup.

INT. FINCHER'S COCKPIT

With a violent JERK, the beam locks on to Tyler's plane.

FINCHER
We have a lock. I'm bringing her home.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

BILL
Felix, put us on emergency standby. Jack, go and watch from the obs tower.

Without hesitation, Jack obeys and marches away. Bill throws his cigar end away and pops a match-stick in his mouth. Felix heaves himself across the runway --

EXT. EMERGENCY SUBSTATION

-- to turn the warning sirens on. As the SIRENS HOWL, the assortment of military aircraft and personnel descend on platforms to the service level below. Felix puts his headset on.

EXT. CONTROL SUBSTATION

BILL
Simulate the landing lights.

EXT. EMERGENCY SUBSTATION

From the carrier, an intense high-power laser guidance beam shoots into the sky for the incoming plane to follow a projected course back to base. 

INT. OBS TOWER

Jack watches the action from high up in the control centre. Leonard strolls over and joins him. In the b.g. the planes can be seen coming into land. 

LEONARD
(over headset)
Bill, do you want central command to take over?

BILL
(filtered)
Negative command centre. We have this under control.

EXT. FLIGHT DECK APPROACH

In the tracking plane, Fincher finds it difficult to fight the various gravitational strains as they approach low and hard over sea.

The planes TEETER unevenly.

BILL
You're doing fine Fincher, bring her in nice and easy. Do not disengage the sonar link until the advance plane has touched down.

The undercarriage of Tyler's DX7 opens and the landing gears emerge.

EXT. FLIGHT DECK

Crash crews are on standby.

BILL
Get ready to disengage the traction beam on my say so -- NOW!

Fincher releases the beam. 

Tyler re-boots the system and the plane lands smoothly onto the flight deck. 

Fincher presses the remote control. 

In his hands -- Tyler's joystick is DRAGGED hard right.

SUDDENLY the forty ton monster YORKIES across the runway -– the landing gear COLLAPSING under the speed and strain –- sending up a giant plume of DISINTEGRATING RUBBER.

TYLER
Shit!

The undercarriage SCREAMS as the plane SKIDS right across the runway at terrific speed.

FELIX
Get out of there Bill!

Bill looks up to see the runaway plane heading straight towards him -- he spits the match-stick from his mouth. Tyler ejects.

With a THUNDEROUS BLAST the DX7 obliterates the control substation. Sparks from the undercarriage triggering the fuselage –-

KABOOM! The plane IGNITES into a fireball as it continues sliding into --

EXT. OBS TOWER

K-WHACK! The fireball is stopped in its path on impact with the rigid titanium structure. 

EXT. EMERGENCY SUBSTATION

Felix is literally BLOWN off his feet as flames and debris BURST LIKE STARS across the runway.

INT. OBS TOWER

Control officers hold onto whatever they can as the tower RATTLES VIOLENTLY. Jack is THROWN forwards. The tower comes to rest at a tilt.

EXT. AIRSPACE

Tyler circles the devastation on his (ejector) jet-pack. Shock, bewilderment -- "did I just cause this?".

INT. OBS TOWER 

A PNEUMATIC HAUL as the tower re-aligns itself. Jack gathers himself up off the floor –- confused, traumatised. In his b.g. --

ENSIGN
-- that's an affirmative despatch on lima and tango teams. All emergency units have been deployed.

LEONARD
Get a crash investigation team down there too.

ENSIGN
We're already on to it admiral.

INT. OBS TOWER

JACK'S POV -- medical emergency and fire crews arrive to the crash scene within seconds. Pandemonium and chaos. 

Fincher brings his DX7 to land on the flight deck. Surveying the devastation he nods satisfactorily -- cold, unsympathetic, frosty.

We PULL FOCUS to see the reflection of the burning inferno on the glass facing Jack. As the reality dawns on him he will never see his father alive again –- a tear crawls down his face.

									DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. TROPICAL FOREST – AFTERNOON

We FLY over the aquamarine blue of the ocean waters to PAN UP and reveal land. A lush tropical island terrain stretching further than the eye can see, the contrast between the thick rolling greenery of the hills and the golden coastal sands give the impression of an idyllic paradise setting. 

A SKYJAG (modern day MIG) surveys the coastline.

Super: The Isles of Ventura, Pacific Ocean	

Super: 15 years later

INT. SKYJAG

MARINA, a wasp-wasted woman sits at the controls -- 20s, latin-american, sickeningly attractive. LUCIANA, her co-pilot is tucked in behind her. Both have thick and heavy hispanic accents.

LUCIANA
Wha' are the chances of finding e again? Is gone, is gone!

MARINA
Is no gone, I can feel is here somewhere.

LUCIANA
Captain, we the radar systems we have we gonna find nothin'. 

MARINA
(points)
Who say anything abou' using our radar system --

There is a vapour trail with a sharp angle in the upper atmosphere.

MARINA (cont'd)
-- and look down over the Isla Casabe...

EXT. ISLA CASABE

Hovering at low altitude in a large alcove, MARINA can make out the outline of a strange aircraft. A fibre-optic pipe protrudes from the underbelly of the mysterious plane, which burrows into the coastal sands below. This drilling operation cannot be seen from the Skyjag as the plane blends in with its background like a mirage. 

INT. SKYJAG COCKPIT

LUCIANA
(over headset)
Blitzer, the is Serpent. We have unknown contact inbound. Requesting support. 

BLITZER
(filtered)
Roger that, deploying contacts now. Your eta to bullseye is five minutes.

LUCIANA
So was the plan this time captain?

MARINA
Ci back and hold off until the bandido in ascent. Then we can ged a clear shot.

The pilots watch closely but cannot see --

EXT. ISLA CASABE

-- the pipe withdraw in to the underbelly of the enigmatic aircraft (the SS2). It begins its slow ascend.

INT. SKYJAG COCKPIT

MARINA
Look like he leaving early.

LUCIANA
Or we been spotted. Hack sidewinder standing-by.

MARINA
Target in sight. Engage!

Marina hits the FIRING STUD.

EXT. SKY

The missile drops away and IGNITES. As the SS2 rises out of the alcove, it incredibly changes colour to match the hue of the sky and elongates in shape.

The hack is seconds away from the point of collision when –-

SCHHHBANG! With a PIERCING SOUND and like a BOLT OF LIGHTNING the SS2 accelerates away at super-sonic speed -- leaving the hack behind in its wake.

Other Skyjags arrive for the dogfight -- but the show is over before it has begun.

EXT. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE

Outside the gates of the decrepit building, marketers and rogue street traders are vying for the same business. Swirling dust and dirt litter the street as people hustle and bustle for their daily essentials. The scene encapsulates a picture of economic uncertainty.

Super: Presidential Palace. Cortez, Capital City of Ventura.

INT. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE

Inside the ramshackle senate meeting rooms, the President of Ventura and his top advisors are gathered on couches watching the video wall.

MARINA
(on screen)
We been tracking e for the last six months and this is by far the best look we hada so far. Is evident stealth technology has made e impossible for our out-dated equipment to detect it in our air space.

Pictures appear on the screen.

CHIEF OF STAFF
A spy plane?

MARINA
We woo have thought so, bud is hull size and wing span suggest e hole more firepower than we previously imagined.

SEC OF DEFENSE
Then why has e no fired?

MARINA
Our guess is, is does no need to. Even with all the surplus weight, e coo still outrun our missiles. This is a fast and frightening piece of engineering.

PRESIDENT VASQUEZ
Thank you Captain.

The video wall turns off.

CHIEF OF STAFF
Not a spy plane, not a fighter and no identifying features to affiliate it to any government. We're under attack and we don't even know by whom.

PRESIDENT VASQUEZ
What would your suggested course of action be Giovanni?

SEC OF DEFENSE
Unauthorised entry in to our air space by an unidentified craft -- we have sufficient grounds on which to call the WNC. This technology poses a far more serious threat than we coo conceive.

VICE PRESIDENT SANTINI
But if we have no been attacked, how can we entertain the notion of getting the WNC involved when we are no even a member state?

SEC OF DEFENSE
Our intelligence is drawing a blank and we do no know which government may be behind these air raids. We are basically sitting ducks. Contacting the WNC is our only option.

PRESIDENT VASQUEZ
I agree with the sentiments of the Vice President. Our pride and status as a flagship community for self-governance may be at stake.  However -- if protocol allows us to seek assistance from the WNC -- I suggest we use it. Our national security is under threat and we must do whatever we can to protect it. Amaranta, put a call through to Reykjavik.

The secretary obliges.

INT. CORRIDOR

As the foreign aides and advisors walk out from the board room -- the vice president waits for the corridor to clear before making a call on his cellular.

SANTINI
Renald?... They're bringing in the WNC, this is becoming too dangerous. Can I assume tha' was the last flight-run and you happy with the findings?... Good, the quicker we do this the better for all of us... No, one more thing. This situation would no have come to a head if it was no for our air force... They are down to five aircraft but it is their captain, Marina Garcia. Even on her current shoestring she still one particularly efficient and resourceful young lady. See wha' you can do abou' her... Gracias, and I see you at the tournament.

									CUT TO:

EXT. RACEWAY – DAY

We fly like gods over a flat arid desert landscape and PAN UP to reveal a MEGALOPOLIS-SIZED racing circuit. The track winds through the vast range like a roller-coaster with massive twists, dips and half-pipes. 

Super: Racetech Training Facility. Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Two race cars line up on the starting grid (KNIGHTSHADE and GULF RAIDER). With high cockpits and fuelled by enormous nitrogen turbine engines -– the cars look like compacted land speed record breakers from the twenty-first century. Throw in another two hundred years of technological advancements and what you have are serious racing machines.

With helmet on, KYLE HACKETT -- a confident and focused teenager sits and waits in GULF RAIDER.

Standside, a man picks up a racing jacket. A gold coloured envelope in the inner pocket FLASHES past us in the sunlight (SLOW-MOTION) as he puts the jacket on. He walks over the starting grid and climbs up into Knightshade. Relaxed and unperturbed, he wears sunglasses and bears stubble and a moustache –- no helmet. He would appear to be a stranger but for one give-away -– the match-stick he chews. Jack keys the ignition -– the engine BELLOWS into life.

Race technicians with a variety of diagnostic instrumentation wait on the sidelines. A race official (trackside) holds a silver pole in his hand. The grandstand is empty. A clock counts down the final seconds before the race.

Nitrogen smoke gushes as the ENGINES GRIND AND REV to their limits. When the clock hits zero, the afterburners IGNITE WITH A ROAR -- and the cars CATAPULT AWAY down the pit straight.

THE RACE

The cars TWIST AND TURN around this labyrinth circuit at EXCRUCIATING SPEEDS. The handling and speed capabilities of these cars are nothing short of extraordinary as they WHIZZ through chicanes and hug the track through a multitude of dips and loops.

With the more experienced driver and the enormity of the circuit length, Knightshade builds up a commanding lead by the end of the first lap.

As Knightshade passes through to begin the second, a digital display sign illuminates on the start grid: WEAPONS ARMED. 

INT. / EXT. KNIGHTSHADE

A weapons console glows in the cockpit. Jack presses the central stud and --

-- a TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION takes place as two TURRET GUNS on rotating heads rise out from the chassis.

EXT. GULF RAIDER

Passing the starting grid, two TASERS emerge from the sides -- pointing forwards. 

This is CAR WARS.

EXT. RACEWAY

DOUP-DOUP-DOUP! A short sharp stifled round RATTLES off from Kyle's taser-gun. Bullet-shaped SOUNDWAVES whistle out from the weapon –- leaving small splintered SONIC AFTER-SHOCKS in their trail.

JACK'S POV

Following the rear views upon the computer screens facing him, Jack surveys the HIGH-VELOCITY tasers closing in on him. Jack SWERVES accordingly -– enigmatically avoiding the shots. The tasers pass –- EXPLODING on the track.

INT. / EXT. KNIGHTSHADE

The turret guns turn and point forwards. At the push of a trigger, a HIGH-PRESSURE WATER JET sprays onto the finishing grid ahead.

The water immediately turns to SHEET ICE.

LOCKING his steering wheel, the car turns and skids through a hundred and eighty degrees across the ice -– SPINNING over the finishing line. It comes to rest facing the opposing direction –- a simple trick boasting Jack's seasoned skills.

EXT. RACEWAY

The race official waves the silver pole (which now hosts a HOLOGRAPHIC CHEQUERED FLAG) to signal Jack as race-winner. Three naval officers step up to witness the dying seconds of the race. The senior officer is an ageing gentleman, with a lean figure and wearing aviator shades. The other two officers are burly marines types.

EXT. GULF RAIDER

Nearing the finishing post, Kyle ploughs straight towards Knightshade. Jack remains firmly rooted to his seat -– unruffled.

Unaware of the black ice, Gulf Raider suddenly SLIPS AND SKIDS –-veering out-of-control and clipping Knightshade by a whisker before CRASHING into the elasticated side-mounting. The car is abruptly bought to a halt. 

Jack disembarks from his cockpit and climbs up the side of Kyle's SMOKING car. The canopy is open --

JACK
Tell me what I'm going to say?

KYLE
That I need to work on my observation.

Disconnecting a lead, Jack takes out a broadpad from inside the cockpit.

JACK
Other than that you're almost ready to take your test and get your race-tech license.

KYLE
So I can apply for it now Mr Temple?

JACK
I said almost. Just hold your horses a few more lessons kid.

KYLE
These lessons are costing my parents a lot of money.

JACK
(smiles)
I know.

Jack dismounts.

EXT. TRACKSIDE

Jack studies the broadpad as he walks. His chief technician, EDDIE STERLING joins him.

EDDIE
So how's the handling?

JACK
There's still too much down-force through cornering.

EDDIE
I didn’t want to compromise your loss of traction through the pipes and straits.

JACK
The pipes I can handle -- but she still needs more down-force if I'm to stay stable at Magna. There's going to be a lot more ammo to dodge than today.

They see the naval officers walking towards them.

EDDIE
Looks like your fan club's here. Give me a call if you need me.
(exits)

SENIOR OFFICER
I'm looking for Damian Ice.

JACK
How can I help you Commander?

SENIOR OFFICER
I see you know your military ranks Mr Temple.

JACK
I had a girlfriend in the navy once.

SENIOR OFFICER
Sure you did. I'm here about your entry into the Magna Racetech Tournament. 

JACK
Entry? I couldn’t afford the ticket price let alone enter that thing. 

SENIOR OFFICER
I think you'll find the tournament invitation in your jacket pocket –-exactly where you left it. The same tournament organised by one General Thomas Fincher.

JACK
And that name's meant to mean something to me right?

SENIOR OFFICER
Sure it is. Seeming as you're planning to assassinate the very General himself. Why don't we cut the crap here.

OFFICER ONE
If you'd like to follow me --

JACK
That's quite an accusation you've made Commander -- but either your sources have a hyper-active imagination or you have the wrong guy. Either way, I'm not the man you're looking for. Now if you'll excuse me -- 
(turning away)
I have work to be getting on with.

SENIOR OFFICER
I know he killed your father on the Tiguana -- Jack.

Jack stops in his tracks.

SENIOR OFFICER (cont'd)
Let's not make this any harder than it needs to be. If you'll please --

The two naval officers step forward. Large, imposing.

JACK
Sure.

Jack obliges. As he takes a step forward flanked by the two officers, his head drops and his mood changes dramatically. His eyes take on a feral intensity. Like his father before him, Jack goes into a killer trance. We'll call it THE ZONE.

CRACK! Jack elbows OFFICER ONE in the ribs, spinning his other hand round flat palmed (MACRO HAND SHOT) -- sending him SOARING backwards. 

OFFICER TWO won't be caught off guard so easily –- advancing upon Jack with HAMMER HANDS. Jack DUCKS and WEAVES through these with taijutsu fluidity. The officer throws a right hook -- Jack clutches his hand. Then a left hook –- Jack also seizes. Holding the hands in place like stone -- Jack SHIFTS his body through the locked hands and violently HEAD SLAMS the officer; who recoils onto the desert dust.

SNNATCH! Officer One SWEEPS Jack's legs. We SLOW THE ACTION RIGHT DOWN as Jack contorts his body horizontal in mid-air through the fall. Grabbing the officer by the lapels, Jack THROWS the hefty marine across his chest –- himself crashing onto terra firma. 

A BACK-FLIP and all three soldiers leap up to face each other. The officers charge -– Jack somersaults forward into a headstand; SHEARING his legs faster than the eye can see. A facial pasting and the officers are knocked out cold -- ambushed by SCISSOR FEET. 

Like a gymnast, Jack completes the somersault gracefully and confronts the Senior Officer. The intensity dissipates from Jack's face. He relaxes.

JACK
I don’t want to fight you old man, but I will if you try and stop me again.

SENIOR OFFICER
And you aren't even curious to know how I knew the tournament invitation was in your jacket pocket?

JACK
A wild guess, but not really.

SENIOR OFFICER
It's because I saw it there. Because your father wasn't the only thing taken away from you that fateful day on the Tiguana, Jack -- but General Fincher took something from me too --

He removes his sunglasses.

SENIOR OFFICER (cont'd)
He took my eyes.

His eyes have been replaced with sensitive electronic optical devices. With the glasses off, Jack recognises the officer stood in front of him --

JACK
Felix?

FELIX
You wouldn't hit a blind man would you?

Jack grabs him and gives him a tight bear hug.

JACK
But you look so --

FELIX
Thin? Go ahead and say it. I didn't like that I couldn’t see what I was eating.

JACK
And the sight?

FELIX
I saw your moves kid. I see you've mastered the zone just like your old man.

JACK
So you can see fine with those things?

FELIX'S POV is a fuzzy and distorted digitised X-ray image of Jack against a green grid. It is a perverse and disturbing vision of what artificial sight could be like.

FELIX
(lies)
Sure.

The officers regain consciousness.

JACK
I don’t get it. So are you here to arrest me?

FELIX
I'm here to show you something --

Felix walks. Trust gained, Jack follows.

									CUT TO:

INT. LIQUOR STORE – DAY

A haggard and withdrawn policeman wearing helmet and black gloves, enters the store. Managed by TONY, it is a traditional liquor store as old as he, stocked with malts and bourbons from the world over. But these don't interest our policeman as he pops a large flask on the counter --

POLICEMAN
Hey.

TONY
You kill anyone today, Tyler?

Tyler looks like a man for whom sleepless nights have taken their toll.

TYLER
Only the chief commissioner and my lawyer.

Tony mouths these words at the same time as Tyler. After all -- it's the same conversation they have every day. The shop manager pops a funnel in to the flask and pours in an entire bottle of SAMBUCA.

TONY
(uncomfortable)
Listen Tyler, I've been meaning to speak to you. I've known you a long time and you're a good customer, but you haven't paid me since last Christmas.

TYLER
(agitated)
I said I'd pay you by the end of the month.

TONY
I'm going to need it by the end of the week. The accountant's paying me a visit and I need to show my books are clear.

TYLER
Tony, I said I'd pay you. You know I'm good for my word.

TONY
(reluctantly relents)
Yeah, okay, okay. What am I going to do if you're not -- call the cops!

Tony hands the flask back to Tyler.

TYLER
(appreciatively)
Thanks Tony.

As Tyler turns, a speck of blood bleeds from his nose.

TYLER'S POV -- Across the street, a high performance electric sports car is parked outside a store called: "ARMSTRONGS HARDWARE EMPORIUM". In this day and age, it's just another ordinary unmarked road car. The engine is running and the driver looks anxious.

TYLER (cont'd)
You know much about Armstrong's?

TONY
Sure, he's a good man. Installed my systems in here. Does a lot for local businesses. Why?

TYLER
I think someone wants that goodwill for free.

Tyler removes his .50 CALIBER machine gun from its holster and dashes out before Tony can say another word.

EXT. STREET

TYLER (cont'd)
(over headset)
Miguel, get me the real time closed circuit for an Armstrong's Hardware Emporium on Dean Street.

MIGUEL
(filtered)
Coming through.

TYLER'S POV -- On the corner of his visor appears the live image from inside the store. Two armed gunmen are carrying clear plastic bags stacked with 2" discs. They are just leaving --

PULL FOCUS -- Through the visor proper, we see the gunmen back out of the door and head for the car.

TYLER
Shit!

Running across the street, Tyler FIRES -- 

DOUP-DOUP! Bullets are blue flashes and have a silencer quality about them. Diving in to the car, the gunmen shoot back -– speeding away as Tyler closes in.

TYLER
Damn!

Tyler presses a button on his wristwatch that sends out a hailing signal --

EXT. SIDE ALLEY

An unmanned POLICE MOTORBIKE pops straight, SLAMS in to reverse and backs out of the alley --

EXT. STREET

The bike SKIDS, SPINS and STOPS. Tyler climbs aboard -– propelling away with a high-pitched ELECTRIC SCREAM.

EXT. INTERSTATE FREEWAY

The bike catches up with the getaway car on the open roads.

Super: El Paso, New Mexico.

The chase is on. Setting his bike to auto-pilot, Tyler perches himself on top of the seat. The bike draws parallel with the car, which in turn VEERS into its path –- attempting to wipe the bike off the road. Sensors on the bike however allow it to move in simultaneous motion which the car's evasive actions -– if the car moves left, the bike moves left; if the car is about to slam the bike against a wall, the bike lets the car pass before levelling up again. All the while, the gunmen take random POT-SHOTS at Tyler.

HOIK! With a gigantic leap of faith, Tyler jumps onto the bonnet of the large back-engined vehicle. The car SWAYS AND SWINGS AGGRESSIVELY as it tries to shake him off. WHEELIES, TWO WHEEL TURNS AND THREE-SIXTY DEGREE SPINS are not even enough to dislodge the uncompromising and persistent cop from their car. 

SCHNIG! Raising his forearm into the air, a SHARP COPPER SPIKE pops out of Tyler's lower arm and through his black glove. With a loud GUTTURAL GROWL, Tyler sinks the spike deep into the engine -- 
 
A STATIC CRACKLE, as electricity surges through the car -– electric sparks and white light undulating through the chassis like wildfire. 

Immobilised, the car rolls to a stop -– followed closely by Tyler's bike. In the b.g., the WAILING SIRENS of other pursuing police cars can be heard.

Tyler casually climbs off the bonnet and walks round to the passenger window --

TYLER
You're under arrest boys. Do you have anything to say in your defence? 

We MOVE ROUND to see that the electrical surge not only immobilised the car -– it also immobilised the passengers, who sit frozen to their spots; quivering with electric shock.

TYLER (cont'd)
I didn't think so.

EXT. LAY-BY

The doors to a police van close as the criminals (rigid like ice-statues) are escorted away. A police tow-truck removes the getaway vehicle.

A SERGEANT looks unimpressed by yet another crime scene to clear up. A greasy young rookie COP hovers around Tyler's police bike. Noticing Tyler's flask, he picks it up and takes a whiff.

Tyler has been talking to a CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR (CSI).

CSI
You pursued them based on a hunch?

TYLER
Uh-huh. If my nose twitches or I get a feeling -- I go with it.

Tyler's nose pulsates.

CSI
You getting one now?

Tyler nods his head. The Sergeant comes up to them, assailed by the rookie cop.

SERGEANT
(holding the flask)
This yours Bell?

Tyler looks at the fresh-faced cop, who smiles smugly.

SERGEANT (cont'd)
I think you better come with me...

									CUT TO:

EXT. RACEWAY – DAY

A black articulated truck is parked in the wastelands outside the race arena. Passing armed guards, Jack and Felix board --

INT. TRUCK

Banks of computers and hardware stream with data as controllers busily fret away at their workstations gathering intelligence. This is mission control; and the space is larger on the inside than it looks from the outside --

FELIX
This is the control hub. This is where we co-ordinate operations from.

JACK
A change of scene Commander. I always thought you were a seafaring man?

FELIX
(taps his glasses)
And stare at an ocean of green all day? Thanks but no thanks.

Walk out of frame.

INT. OFFICE

Felix inserts a 2" disc in to a supplement drive. A video begins on a large plasma screen. Continuing the family tradition, Jack gets comfortable and chews a match-stick. Some of the images appear as 3-D colour holograms, others simply as flat screen montages.

FELIX
This is Thomas Fincher as you may remember him. These are our most recent pictures of General Fincher today -- he never was nailed for the incident on the Tiguana as you know.

JACK
So what happened?

FELIX
We found the device Fincher used to control Bell's plane. Problem was it was activated by a remote unit which was never recovered, so the navy buried what little evidence they had against Fincher and he walked.

JACK
And Tyler Bell is still made to believe the fault was his. What makes you so sure it was Fincher?

FELIX
The same reason you do. We know he had it in for your father. It was the only plausible explanation based on the facts.

JACK
Why the sudden interest in Fincher?

FELIX
It's not sudden. We've been tracking him for a long time now -- ever since he was taken under the wing of one of the senior officers. The same officer we believe masterminded the plot to kill your father.

JACK
Who?

FELIX
Admiral Leonard Wells.

JACK
Leo? My father trusted him with his life.

FELIX
And it turned out Wells was Fincher's uncle -- blood runs thicker than water Jack.

Jack's mind races as he takes it all in.

FELIX (cont'd)
The Tiguana incident was just one of many tricks the pair played as Fincher rose in rank. As a general, he's become a highly influential, feared and powerful military machine. 

JACK
What happened to Wells?

FELIX
Fincher built a large base of diplomatic and political affiliations introduced to him by Wells. But Wells had a stroke and died a few years ago. Fincher has gone on to amass a large personal fortune which we assume are from a variety of covert paramilitary operations. After all, you don’t support a tournament like Magna without some serious backing.

JACK
And there's more to Magna than meets the eye, right?

INT. CELL

A prisoner lies on a bunk -- reading. A prison warden walks up to the bars waving an intricately detailed gold coloured envelope in his hand.

WARDEN
You got mail.

PRISONER
(behind magazine)
No one knows I'm here.

WARDEN
Someone does.

The prisoner moves the magazine away -- it's Tyler. The warden throws the envelope onto his chest. Tyler looks at it -- it has already been opened and read. Tyler sits up and is about to read it, when he sees that the warden is still lurking around --

WARDEN (cont'd)
It's after your parole date. So you going to be there?

INT. OFFICE

Felix and Jack continue following the images --

FELIX
This is the SS2 Silver Stealth. Developed by the U.S. military, its capabilities were staggering -- 

The SS2 changes shape and colour and then the devastation caused by one of its missiles is shown on screen.

FELIX (cont'd)
They nick-named it WOMA. The weapon of mass annihilation. The rumour mill has it the design schematics were generated out of Roswell. But the SS2 was never commissioned due to the economic climate -- or so we thought. New intelligence has come to light that the designs and blueprints were illegally acquired and auctioned at a Syrian arms fair eight years ago. If our sources are accurate, General Fincher is believed to have been the highest bidder.

JACK
Are you telling me Fincher's been busy building warplanes?

FELIX
(serious and harsh tone)
These aren't any old planes Jack. These are the most sophisticated aviation machines ever built. You could single-handedly wage a war with one of these things -- and expect to win.

JACK
What other intel are you going on?

FELIX
IRS have uncovered international laundering operations and accounting irregularities within Fincher's financial portfolio. The largest discrepancies though are through the Magna Tournament finances –- we've had to involve Wall Street watchdogs and various other agencies to uncover the extent of fraud and deception within the tournament accounts.

JACK
Sounds like it would solve a lot of problems if Fincher was out of the way. 

FELIX
Negative. It would create more. We can't risk letting the plans for the SS2 fall into the wrong hands again. We need to find out exactly how far into development Fincher is with these planes, and what he plans to use them for once they are complete. The tournament's a smoke-screen for something far bigger, and we need to find out what that something is.

JACK
Send in an operative.

FELIX
We have –- agent Elizabeth West. She's working undercover as a diagnostics technician for the Modena team.

JACK
Fincher's team?

FELIX
Yes, the same team he sponsors. But she has to exercise extreme vigilance and caution at all times. Race technicians are sub-contracted so security keep an eye on them like hawks. We need someone who can get closer to the action.

Jack knows where this is heading.

FELIX (cont'd)
The racers are well looked after and avoid the finger of any suspicion from security as they're invited guests.

JACK
And with my alter ego Damian Ice already in place -- I'm the best hope you have. And I thought you were inviting me in for cheesecake.

FELIX
If cheesecake is what it takes.

JACK
After what Fincher did to my father -- you want me to go in as a spy? I don't want to collect evidence for a lawsuit Felix. I want this man dead.

FELIX
You'll do this if you believe in justice Jack. But either way there's no way your one man crusade is going to jeopardise this operation. So what do you say Jack -- you game?

RISING SOUND of a sonic conveyor belt --

									CUT TO:

INT. TRAVELATOR – MORNING

A small bag in tow, Jack stands on a long glass travelator. Other passengers are on the walkway. In the b.g. other travelators at varying heights can be seen carrying everything from passengers, food, cargo, supplies, vehicles etc. We PULL BACK to find the travelator is entering the lowest level of --

EXT. BEHEMOTH

A colossal transportation ship; the size of a frigate and primarily a cargo vessel. Without water, rudders, wings or wheels –- it is an enigma for the moment as to how it travels.

INT. MAIN CABIN

Jack enters a large reception cabin, brimming with cascading fountains and exotic trees. A stewardess walks over and points an electronic device at him. Jack's picture, name and details appear on the screen --

STEWARDESS
It's a pleasure to have you on board Mr. Temple. Allow me to show you to your seat.

Jack follows the stewardess to a row of three large comfortable ashen leather swivel chairs, arranged in an arc. This is first class extreme. The gentleman in the central seat, reads an adult magazine and holds a crystal glass in his hand.

JACK
(quizzical)
Tyler Bell?

TYLER
(confused, but jovial)
Do I know you kid?

JACK
The name's Ice. Damian Ice. 

TYLER
(tipsy)
And you're cool as I suppose. You're not one of these sports agents are you, because I just really want to kick back and --

JACK
(interrupts)
No, I'm here to race.

TYLER
With a name like Ice I guess you are. And I thought I was going to have to spend my time listening to some sales asshole telling me how his asshole is bigger than all the other assholes.

Jack smiles.

TYLER (cont'd)
So what's your story soldier, how did you end up here?

JACK
I'm a racing instructor. Someone thought I was good enough to enter and invited me so here I am.

TYLER
As I thought. I didn’t take you for a pro.

JACK
What makes you say that?

TYLER
Your ego's not big enough!

They laugh.

JACK
How about you?

TYLER
I was hired.

JACK
You got a game plan?

TYLER
They build it, I drive it. That's all there is to it.

JACK
What, no winning formulas and race psychology?

TYLER
I drink too much to know what race psychology is!
(his nose twitches)
But my extra sensory perception tells me you're a man with a secret or two --

JACK
We all have secrets Tyler. Let me get you a drink.

TYLER
Sambuca, make it a large. One more thing.

JACK
Sure.

TYLER
How did you know my name?

JACK
The stewardess told me.

Tyler is satisfied by the answer to the question that had been bugging him all conversation and picks up his magazine as Jack walks away.

EXT. THE BEHEMOTH

The travelators move away from the sides and retract into the terminal. The doors seal closed. THEN -—

The top of the hull opens up. An AIRBAG INFLATES and the enormity of this vehicle hits us -- it is an AIRSHIP OF IMMENSE PROPORTIONS.

INT. MAIN CABIN

Tyler is engrossed by his magazine.

FEMALE VOICE
Excuse me. Excuse me --

A cowboy hat drops over the pages filled with scantily dressed women.

FEMALE VOICE (cont'd)
E this your hat?

Tyler peers over the magazine --

In front of him stands a vision. Slender, beautiful, toned; she is a true revelation and it is also the first time we have seen her from the shoulders down.

Marina holds a cowboy hat in her hands.

TYLER
Why yes it is ma'am --

Tyler pops the hat back on as Marina settles herself into the vacant seat.

TYLER (cont'd)
-- and forgive me. I didn't catch your name. 

MARINA
(taking her seat)
Is because I did no tell you -– Tyler.

TYLER
You know me too?

MARINA
No. Is written inside your hat.

TYLER
(embarrassed)
I'm racing in the tournament you know. I used to be a pilot in the marine corps.

MARINA
Good.

TYLER
I can get you grand side seats if you play your cards right... So tell me what you do?

MARINA
I race.

TYLER
(flummoxed)
In the tournament? But you're --

MARINA
-- a fully qualified pilot and the captain of the national air force of Ventura -- and I don' think you want to finish that sentence.

TYLER
That's not what I was going to say.

MARINA
Is no need to explain -- I forgive you.

TYLER
Forgive me?

MARINA
Yes, forgive you. For assuming wha' you were assuming. Because my mother tell me I must forgive you –- for you being what you are.

TYLER
Listen, we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot. 

MARINA
And why is tha' when I try my hardest to look so disinterest in everything you have to say?

TYLER
I just thought you were the kind of gal who liked to have fun.

MARINA
Fun? Is that another word for sex?

TYLER
Now you're putting words in my mouth!

MARINA
Is tha' where you like it? Why you try so hard? Why you no just come out and say it?

TYLER
Say what!?!

MARINA
You want to get in my panties, don' you?

TYLER
Now look here, I was trying --

MARINA
To get into my little panties, I know! Well I going pee. When I return, you think long and hard about wha' you say to me.
(rises)
Okay.

We FOLLOW Marina as she confidently strides away from her dumb-struck fellow passenger and exits frame. PULL BACK to reveal –-

INT. BAR

Jack waits to be served. He has chewed his match-stick to a pulp. He discards it, and as he takes a fresh match out of the box, he is nudged badly from behind --

JACK
Hey!

Jack turns to be confronted by an immaculately dressed figure of bare-knuckle fighting proportions --

JACK (cont'd)
I was waiting to get served!

DIEGO
Then you can wait a bit longer, asshole.

Jack is not easily intimidated by such a presence.

JACK
You're pretty smart for a man your size.

DIEGO
I'll take that as a compliment.

JACK
It means what God gave you up there -- he must have taken from down here.

Jack grabs Diego by his balls and twists.

DIEGO
AHHHHHHHH!!

With his free hand, Jack CRACKS Diego in the midriff and sends him CRASHING against the bar and onto the floor.

Within the BLINK OF AN EYE, Jack swipes a glass of bourbon from the bar which falls onto Diego's shirt. A FLICK of his match stick off the bar -- and Diego is ENGULFED by flames.

The barman quickly grabs an extinguisher and SMEARS the flames with a powerful jet of water and foam. Diego slips and slides; unable to stand up through the surge.

The extinguisher CLICKS off. 

Humiliated and dripping in water, Diego goes BERSERK –- blindly lunging his hefty bulk at anything near him. The petrified barman backs away instantaneously.

Help is at hand though, as STEWARDS dive in by the dozen -- flooring and restraining the rabid animal. Sedated and handcuffed, Diego is led away under house arrest.

JACK
Mind if I order some drinks now?

BARMAN
Certainly sir, it's on the house!

INT. MAIN CABIN

Jack returns with drinks.

TYLER
What took you so long?

JACK
Just some guy at the bar.

TYLER
What was the problem?

JACK
He got a little hot under the collar.
(spots Marina's bag)
I see the seat's taken.

TYLER
She's a real treat. Just wait until you get an eyeful of her. She's got legs like velvet but la senorita esta loca!

JACK
What happened?

TYLER
She accused me of trying to get in her pants?

JACK
And were you?

TYLER
Sure I was, but I don't want her knowing that. Here she comes --

Marina returns. She looks at Jack as she takes her seat --

MARINA
I like wha' you do with the match. 

JACK
Why thank you.

MARINA
My name is Marina Garcia. I am from Ventura. Buenos.

JACK
It's a pleasure to meet you.

Tyler is perplexed.

TYLER
Hey hold on one moment. You've been speaking to him for all of ten seconds and you've already given him your name.

MARINA
Is because he is a gentleman. I talk to him and he talk back.

TYLER
That's exactly what I was doing!

MARINA
No. No quite. I talking to you and you trying to get in my pants. Tha's the difference!

TYLER
And how do you know he's not thinking the same thing?

MARINA
Because he got too much else on his mind.

TYLER
(to Jack)
Is she right?

Jack nods his head.

MARINA
And anyway, I would no mind if he was. You no see wha' he can do with a match-stick.

Laughter.

EXT. THE BEHEMOTH

The Behemoth is airborne over the San Luis Valley.

INT. MAIN CABIN

Jack is sat alone with a broadpad on his lap and a headset on. The broadpad shows schematics of a hotel complex. Jack navigates through the plans getting a feel for the place. The corner of the screen shows a number being dialled for an "EDDIE STERLING". Eddie will appear onscreen when he answers --

EXT. ALCOVE - DAY

The Knightshade team are with the cars (one spare) in what looks like an outdoor garage built in to rock. Technicians are busily fretting away working on all aspects (engine, brakes, wheels, weapons). Eddie manages the mayhem. A call comes through at his ICS LINK workstation. The INDUSTRIAL CLATTERING and noise make it a difficult call to take --

INTERCUT THE FOLLOWING WITH JACK.

JACK
How are you getting on down there Eddie?

EDDIE
Manic.

As Jack watches the screen, in b.g. a technician ELECTROCUTES himself via a SHARP SHOCK.

JACK
You going to be ready on time?

EDDIE
We will be by tomorrow Damian.

JACK
The line's secure.

EDDIE
Good. I got word from Felix and the plans have changed Jack. Security's tight here at the tournament so you're not to approach agent Elizabeth West at anytime. She'll approach you as and when appropriate.

JACK
Understood. Have you made the changes?

EDDIE
We're just modifying the power plant and I've installed that extra safety feature as requested under the seat. It's all in place.

JACK
Thanks Eddie. Final weapon checks complete?

EDDIE
Locked and fully loaded --

In b.g. a weapons technician is STARTLED by the weapon randomly FIRING OFF. A stream of water lands on a diagnostic panel, freezing it instantly.

EDDIE (cont'd)
Well almost!

Jack cuts the connection. He rests his head back and smiles.

INT. CENTRAL PROMENADE

Tyler and Marina stroll past shops, restaurants, casino etc. Tyler has a glass in one hand and sways a bottle of his preferred tonic in the other.

MARINA
Why you drink so much?

TYLER
Helps me forget.

MARINA
Forget what?

TYLER
The past.

MARINA
Wha' happen.

TYLER
I killed a man.

MARINA
When you were pilot?

TYLER
I could be kidding you know...

MARINA
Is an accident. Is occupational hazard of the job. Is no so bad.

TYLER
It was my fault.

MARINA
So now you a drunk.

TYLER
You're kind of perceptive.

MARINA
And you still no getting in my pants.

Marina walks ahead. On Tyler: "what is he letting himself in for?"

INT. MAIN CABIN

Jack is relaxing in his seat.

CO-PILOT
(filtered, over speakers)
Ladies and Gentlemen, we will shortly be docking at our final destination. On behalf of your captain may we all wish you a most memorable tournament.

Tyler and Marina return to take their seats. Huge floor and wall panels open up in the cabin to behold the view of the PANORAMIC LANDSCAPE below --

EXT. THE GRAND CANYON - MAGNA RACETECH RACEWAY

The WIDE SHOT reveals the full extent of the race track -– it is a GOLIATH OF A CIRCUIT, using the entire length and breadth of the canyon and stretching further than the eye can see. The track COASTERS in and around the canyon. Giant DIPS and CURVES are interspersed with TUNNELS and LOOPS. Behind the central grandstand is the gargantuan tournament complex where the Behemoth is coming into dock. 

The stage is set and it is simply awesome.

									DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. PHOENIX COMPLEX

The Behemoth is docked in the terminal. Travelators ferry cargo off the airship. The Phoenix itself is an extraordinary building, set on one of the highest Canyon ridges and overlooking the race track below. It is a fully-facilitated city under one roof.

INT. CENTRAL LOBBY

Reception desks are dotted all around the lobby where the passengers check in. House robots wearing digital name tags wait in the wings to escort the VIP guests directly to their rooms.

Jack, Tyler and Marina step off a travelator and are approached by one such robot.

JESSICA
Welcome to the Phoenix. If you will allow me, I will escort you to your rooms.

Jessica has humanoid features and large almond eyes. She is pretty enough to threaten a competitive female like Marina in the looks department.

TYLER
What pretty eyes you have Jessica.

Marina throws Tyler a cutting and jealous glance. 

SUDDENLY Diego comes running through the lobby, flanked by two air stewards. Released from his cuffs, the stewards give up the chase having landed on terra firma. Diego runs up to two men on a raised podium in the centre of the lobby who look over proceedings. 

Jack clocks and recognises one of them. It is Bombay Lau, General Fincher's personal bodyguard. Of Asian descent, he is twenty-two stone of ripped fighting muscle. A silent sort who trades in fear and intimidation.

The other man is D-DAY, the head of tournament security. A tall figure with chiselled East European features. Wearing a headset and a sharp suit, he displays a zen-like intensity and flare to his work.

SLOW MOTION

Jack absorbs the scene. Diego rants and raves to the security men whose expressions do not change. Then, spotting Jack -- Diego points accusingly. Jack stares back, unnerving the gesticulating Diego -– and walks on.

Bombay Lau's gaze however is firmly where it shouldn't be –- on Marina. The feisty latino turns away; vulnerable.

INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR

Jessica shows Tyler to his room, handing him an entry card.

JESSICA
-- and please feel free to call me if you should require anything else Tyler. Anything at all.

TYLER
I might take you up on that offer.

Jessica glides away as Tyler opens the door.

INT. TYLER'S SUITE

Resting below the grandiose two-storey windows -- a kick-back area houses television, pool table, bar, piano and jacuzzi. With views overlooking the canyon, the best suites in Vegas do not compare.

TYLER
Somebody pinch me.

INT. GRAND HALL – EVENING

From the polished veneer of the dance floor to the high stained glass roof of the food atrium, the main hall is fully decked out for a lavish evening banquet. The dinner and dance atmosphere is consumed with the anticipation of the tournament beginning the next day.

The black-tie event is a posthumous mix of the rich, businessmen, sports personalities, rock stars, super models etc.

Futuristic multi-media entertainments include aerial laser shows and 3-D holographic cars pulling up and disintegrating in to advertisements for the sponsors on the dance floor. Robots mill around serving drinks and canapes as security keep a watchful eye over proceedings.

Marina is sat at a large round table with her racing team. She taps away on her broadpad as they discuss tactics and race strategy.

In the lobby outside the hall, Jack has a moment to himself. He wears a casual blue suit (no tie), and holds a tiny parcel in his hand. Inside it there is a packet of chewing gum. He takes one out and slides open the silver wrapping. Turning the flat piece gum over reveals the words: COME DANCING, LIZ. Jack folds the piece of gum, pops it his mouth and walks on.

On entering the hall, Jack is stopped.

D-DAY
The invite states that this is a black tie affair only.

Jack calmly opens his jacket to reveal a black tie hanging from the inside pocket.

JACK
It doesn’t state I need to wear it.

Without waiting for response, Jack pushes past. 

His eyes search and filter the hall from left to right as he walks through. Jack acknowledges Eddie and his team, enjoying themselves around a table with an empty seat (we assume this to be Jack's).

Passing the bar, Jack is suddenly accosted out of nowhere --

TYLER
Looking for something stranger?

JACK
I see you found the bar then. Where are your team?

TYLER
Over there --

Sat around a table, the Grand Delusion boys look uninspired and demoralised by their driver's drinking antics. It is a sorry sight.

TYLER (cont'd)
(raising glass)
They're not too impressed by my style of race prep though.

JACK
They kind of have a point.

TYLER
They build it --

JACK
-- and you drive it. That's all there is to it.

TYLER
You're catching on. Tell me something, what do you see when you look around here Jack?

JACK
People with too much money and not enough sense out enjoying themselves.

TYLER
You want to know what I see. I see a heavy-handed security presence. I see people under constant surveillance twenty-four-seven. I see these people imprisoned in this giant fortress called the Phoenix. But what I don't see... is why?

Jack is impressed by this foresight. Marina approaches looking radiant in her evening dress.

MARINA
I can no wait for the race tomorrow.

JACK
Word on the street is you have a good set-up.

MARINA
How you know?

JACK
My team find out these things.

MARINA
I see. Well they right. My caro is perfect, I can no wait.

TYLER
Before anyone asks, I don't know and I don’t care.

MARINA
Wha' you mean, you don't know?

TYLER
I haven’t been in my car, seen my car and couldn't even tell you what it looks like.

JACK
You like one of these drivers-for-hire?

TYLER
That's right. I'm contracted to drive by some big elitist corporation.

MARINA
But you still have to test the car?

TYLER
I was supposed to. But I was otherwise engaged during testing season.

MARINA
Oh I see. You too busy in your hectic life to test the car. In my country, we call you an ass.

TYLER
And in my country, you have a great one.

Jack whose mind has been elsewhere, is tapped on the shoulder --

DIEGO
Tomorrow in qualifying. Watch your back!

JACK
I plan to. And I'll see you in my dirt.

As Jack face begins to contort, Diego leaves it and walks away.

JACK
(exiting)
If you'll both excuse me.

TYLER
Now if there isn't a man who ain't as humble as he likes to make out.

MARINA
C'mon.

TYLER
(drinking)
Where to?

MARINA
Now we establish you are an ass, let see how you shake it on dance floor --

Marina grabs Tyler and drags him away.

INT. DANCE FLOOR

Jack spots and approaches Jessica.

JACK
I need an exact lock on an Elizabeth West.

JESSICA
Certainly.

An inconspicuous and discreet laser beam shines on Elizabeth West.

JESSICA (cont'd)
Miss Elizabeth West is currently engaged on the dance floor. Would you like me to call her for you?

JACK
No Jessica. That will be all.

JESSICA
(seductively)
Feel free to call me if you should require anything else Damian... anything at all.

JACK
I'll bear that in mind.

Elizabeth glows in her midnight frock as she dances with an older gentleman dressed in the traditional garments of a Colombian don. Jack watches -- they make eye contact.

We PAN across to Tyler and Marina who whirl aggressively across the dancefloor. Marina is a spirited dancer and responds deftly to Tyler's moves. They are well matched, parrying together in synchronised harmony.

MARINA
Where you learn to dance?

TYLER
Late night bars, drinking holes, you name it.

MARINA
You should stop drinking.

TYLER
Why?

MARINA
Is a highly unattractive quality to have in a man.

Marina looks at him. Serious sparks. Before another word can be exchanged --

INT. GRAND HALL

The music stops and the lights dim. Silence falls amongst the bemused guests. 

The stained glass roof of the hall opens up, letting the twilight seep through. A slight breeze kicks up, and then the silence is broken by a loud approaching SONIC WHISTLE –-

Rolling over us the shadowed under-belly of an aircraft obliterates our view through the skylight. The plane descends. Stunned shock and amazement as people quickly clear the dance floor area. 

Engines die down.

A luxury A300 SAFINA JUMP-JET, this is a plane designed to suit the lavish and expensive tastes bought by new arab oil. A marvel of design and architecture -- it is the last word in comfort.

TYLER
This should be interesting.

The cockpit opens up to reveal a flamboyantly dressed senior military person. His lofty presence and square jaw are an easy give-away --

FINCHER
People and comrades, allow me to welcome you all to the finest of competitions known to mankind -- The Magna Racetech Tournament. A three day tournament, where man and machine unite, to pit their wills against one another in an arena of all out war. A tournament, conducted on the most dangerous and brutal stage ever witnessed and built in to the very geography of the Grand Canyon. A sport for gladiators, where men and women will fight it out on a track of death, all in the name of being crowned the greatest driver on earth –-and not to forget being awarded the small matter of the prize money.

The suits laugh. A diamond bullion encased in glass rises from the dancefloor.

FINCHER (cont'd)
An event, where the strong will survive, the weak will perish -- and the great will rise.

Wild rapturous applause. Fincher sits back down and the cockpit closes. The plane tilts forward and with a loud BANG! SHOOTS BACKWARDS, reversing out of the skylight at super-speed. Music resumes.

TYLER
Shame he couldn’t stay for the party. 

Tyler's nose throbs -– a painful sensation.

									CUT TO:

EXT. GRAND CANYON RACEWAY - MORNING

The clock is set at one hour.

FORTY CARS line up diagonally on either side of the starting grid. The cars are parked in front of their allocated team caverns (pit garages carved in to the rock of the canyon). All cars have high cockpits and are fuelled by nitrogen propulsion. 

The scene is bustling with race marshals, pit girls, press, celebrities. Drivers mill around as technicians complete final systems and diagnostics checks on their cars.

Super: Racetech Championship, Day One

Super: Qualifying

INT. KNIGHTSHADE

From his cockpit, Jack observes as Elizabeth works on the front end of the car opposite his. In the adjacent row, Marina focuses on the race ahead.

Chewing match-stick, he looks up to see -—

EXT. GRANDSTAND - JACK'S POV

The state grandstand is packed to the hilt with people. Diego has a word with Fincher. Bombay stands guard behind them. Santini, the vice president of Ventura is sat next to Fincher. On the other side of Fincher is sat an elderly gentleman, but Jack cannot make out who this is. Other businessmen and dignitaries are sat amidst a high security presence. After a short while, the elderly gentleman rises and disappears down a walkway behind him.

Diego walks down to his car.

INT. KNIGHTSHADE

Incoming on Jack's ICS LINK screen --

JACK
Tyler.

TYLER
(on screen)
Just wishing you the best man.

JACK
You too. How's the head?

Tyler shakes a half bottle of liqueur at the screen.

JACK (cont'd)
Hair of the dog?

TYLER
(on screen)
It's filled with water -- but the guys working on the car don't know that. I've never seen technicians in such a tizz --

EXT. STARTING GRID

As Tyler talks we follow Diego in the b.g.

TYLER (V.O. cont'd)
-- the chief's spoken to the race director three times about whether they should pull me out. Luckily the race director was on my side –- he's shacked up with three hookers in some bar in Samoa and couldn’t care less. So it appears I'm going to be around to give you guys a ride for your money --

Diego grabs the female technician inspecting the front cone section of his car and shoves her to the ground –-

DIEGO
(distant)
-- if it isn't ready now, it never will be you stupid bitch!

The technician is Elizabeth.

Quick as a flash, Jack suddenly releases his canopy and with his sub-human abilities LEAPS out of his car. Eyes sharpening, Jack advances towards Diego. 

Diego stands straight and holds position. Smug.

Leaping from his cockpit and realising Jack is about to lose it, Tyler steps in and grabs him --

TYLER
In the race. You'll get him in the race.

Liz looks severe, shaking her head –- unimpressed by Jack losing his cool. Diego is content –- having managed to get a rise from his newfound enemy.

Jack climbs back aboard his car. Tyler looks at Marina and shrugs –- "what was that all about?" All drivers step up and take their seats. The pit area clears.

EXT. STARTING GRID – FINAL COUNTDOWN

The chorus of REVVING ENGINES increases, as the cars egg each other on. The noise rises to a DYNAMITE PITCH until--

The clock turns over, and begins it countdown from one hour. TUMBLEWEED SILENCE prevails.

Slowly, cars begin to creep away down the pit straight. A BRISTOL EXCELSIOR reaches the start line, and as it crosses -– SCHBANG! Its thrusters BURST INTO LIFE, BURNING RED-HOT as it shoots off down the opening straight with incredible force.

EXT. RACEWAY

Following suit, other cars PELT across the start line. Being a qualifying lap, there is no overtaking. Images of the race are beamed to the grandstands dotted all around the circuit via hovering aerial camera units.

We FOLLOW the action as these cars whisk through corners and take bends at high speed.

INT. BRISTOL EXELSIOR

Riding with Dutch driving supremo JONAS WINK, we BOMB through a tunnel -– SKIRT around the edge of a rock face with a significant drop -– PLUMMET down a sizeable ravine and then WHIP through a corkscrew. 

On taking the curve of the corkscrew though, Wink carries too much speed and -– SCHWOOH! The Excelsior quietly flies off the track. Not so supremo anymore.

Pressing the emergency release button, Wink's seat EJECTS from the capsule –- IGNITING mid-flight. Powered by a ROCKET JET-PACK (attached to the back of his seat) he manages to glide safely back up the canyon.

EXT. RACEWAY

As the cars come in from completing their laps, their names and times are recorded on an electronic leaderboard.

Marina is tracking the action on her dash monitors. Qualification minutes ticks away. She is hailed on her LINK screen --

TYLER
(on screen)
Want to see what my ass can do in a car it's never driven before?

Marina slams her foot down and approaches the start line within the regulatory pit lane speed limits. Having been caught off guard, Tyler (in Grand Delusion) sets off in pursuit.

SCHBANG! BANG! Marina and Tyler blast through the start line respectively. Called the SNOW BOA, the sun dances all over Marina's car, a metallic white blending in to tinted shade of silver towards the rear.

The cars twist and sashay through the meandering track. At the halfway point the leaderboard states that Tyler has eaten a quarter of a second into Marina's one second lead. He is a picture of concentration.

On the last bend, Tyler KICKS-IN a turbo thrust and ROCKETS round and past the Snow Boa over the finishing line.

The leaderboard shows Tyler has landed the new fastest time, with Marina posting a solid second place position trailing by a second.

INT. SNOW BOA

TYLER
(on screen)
Testing, schmesting.

Marina turns the monitor off.

EXT. STARTING GRID

Tyler drives back to the astounded jubilation of his team.

As another leaves the pit area to start its qualifying lap, only two cars remain which have not yet started -- Jack and Diego (in VEILED AURORA). They are dangerously close to running out of time.

Eyeballing Jack one last time, Diego fires up and passes the start line. Jack follows suit. We sense this will be a race to the wire.

EXT. RACEWAY

In close succession, the cars PUMP their after-burners -- tobogganing through the half pipes from left to right.

LONGSHOTS of the canyon expose the vastness of the raceway construct. 

The cars WHIZZ through blind corners of a long dark tunnel. SCREECH! Diego SWERVES perilously to avoid a rogue qualifying car in front. Jack looms up dangerously close -- creating a pocket of traffic. Both cars pass unharmed.

Out of the tunnel, Knightshade tries to JINX AND HUSTLE past Veiled Aurora by switching track side. Experienced at defending his position -- Diego laughs, creating all sorts of problems for Jack.

The clock informs us they both have the fastest one-two split times. The crowds titillate with excitement.

At a downhill tubular section, Jack envisages an opportunity to pass by ROLLING Knightshade upside down and WHIPPING through. Jack initiates the manoeuvre precisely –- turning the car on its head. Before he can complete -- the tubular section dissipates into flat narrow track -- and Jack has to roll back prematurely, tucking in behind the Aurora once again.

The track narrows and snakes round the side of the canyon, unprotected at this point by a SHEER DROP to the right. Jack remains cautiously behind Diego.

INT. KNIGHTSHADE

Incoming on the LINK --

DIEGO
(on screen)
Pass me if you so dare.

JACK
If you insist!

EXT. RACEWAY

Busy on the ICS LINK -– Jack catches Diego off-guard and nips up alongside him as the track opens up again into two lanes. 

Taking BRIDGE JUMPS and LOOP-THE-LOOPS simultaneously the two cars keep EGGING PAST one another in the last segment of the circuit.

The FINAL TURN -– ZOOM! Knightshade takes the outside line to pass the Aurora. The crowd are up on their feet. Diego keeps to his line and as the curve straightens, the Aurora appears to have the lead.

BOLTING it down to the finishing line –- and the Aurora passes through first, pipping Knightshade by a neck.

The grandstand ROARS with appreciation for a spectacular start to the tournament.

INT. VEILED AURORA

Diego shakes his hand in the air in a victory salute. Incoming --

JACK
(on screen)
You started before me. Why don't you look at the leaderboard before you celebrate, firewalker!

Diego looks up and sees the race order for the following day: Jack in pole, Diego second, Tyler third, Marina fourth etc.

INT. KNIGHTSHADE – PIT GARAGE

Jack parks amidst the euphoria of his team.

He looks up to the grandstand where Fincher nods in admiration at the winner's obvious skills in a well-fought contest. Jack stares back -- cold and expressionless.

									DISSOLVE TO: 

INT. GRAND HALL - EVENING

There is a real buzz and excitement in the hall after qualifying. Racetech is on everyone's lips as the champagne flows.

D-Day has a quiet word with two of his security officers who disappear.

Jack is greeted with a large cheer and an applause as he enters. Pats on the back and congratulations aplenty, Jack makes his way through the appreciative congregation. 

Finding Marina parked on a bar stool, Jack evades all the attention and razzmatazz --

JACK
This how you switch off?

MARINA
(looking up from her broadpad)
I believe congratulations are in order?

JACK
Thanks.

MARINA
Why I think you no like all the attention?

JACK
For qualifying?

MARINA
Your modesty is quite unlike any other driver. Women are throwing themselves at you and you ignoring them.

JACK
I've already got my eye on someone.

MARINA
Are you making a pass a me?

JACK
Not this time.

MARINA
Good, because you no my type. So wha' you do with the money when you win?

JACK
The two big races to go and you say I've already won. Ever heard of reverse psychology Miss Garcia?

MARINA
No. Your driving is magnificent! I watch you all way round and some of your lines, how you stay on the track, I not-

JACK
I get the picture.

MARINA
Oh I forget -- you no like compliments.

JACK
What would you do with the money if you won?

MARINA
Well I sent here to race by President Antonio Vasquez and Vice President Pablo Santini to represent my country in this tournament. My people are independent, but not affluent like the peoples you see around you. What I win, my people will receive.

JACK
What would you do if you won the money for you?

MARINA
If for me, then I give the money to my squadron to buy new surveillance equipment for our fighter planes.

JACK
And you say I'm the modest one.

MALE VOICE (O.S.)
That's my seat you're in pal!

Jack looks up to see Tyler.

TYLER (cont'd)
Good work superfly, you nailed him good and proper.

JACK
(walking away)
If you'll both excuse me.

TYLER
What did I say?

MARINA
He can't handle the adulation.

INT. GRAND HALL – DANCE FLOOR - MOMENTS LATER

D-Day is trying to grind up to Elizabeth West as close as possible. 

LIZ
For the love of God, will you give me some breathing space, please!

D-DAY
What's wrong? I've seen you dancing up close with every other man in this room!

LIZ
Hey, back off sasquatch!

D-DAY
(turning nasty)
What did you call me?

Diego looks up from his table to see what the commotion is. Lau also notices a problem arising. Jack steps in --

JACK
(to D-Day)
Hey listen, I've seen this guy snooping around outside and his suit looked more Shanghai Knight than it did Saville Row if you get my drift?

D-DAY
I'm in the middle of something.

JACK
(turning away)
Sure -- I hope he doesn't find anything he's not supposed to, you being security and all.

D-Day looks down and notices Jack is wearing a tie.

D-DAY
Where did you see this man?

JACK
He entered one of the maintenance rooms off the west corridor in the central lobby. I'm sure it's nothing.

D-Day is unconvinced but has a job to investigate nonetheless.

D-DAY
Ma'am.

LIZ
Whatever!

D-Day clicks his fingers, and flanked by two guards they march out in unison. Jack takes over the dance. They pivot gracefully --

LIZ
I would have kicked his ass myself if we weren't undercover.

JACK
Did you see the size of his hands?

LIZ
Yeah, so?

JACK
You were out of your depth -– he's a champion body-crusher.

LIZ
Fine. Then I should kick your ass instead. What the hell do you think you were playing at in the pits today?

JACK
I saw you were pushed -- I was trying to help.

LIZ
Listen, just back off okay. I don't need protection and you risk exposing us. I wouldn’t exactly have been sent here if I couldn't handle myself.
(pause)
Besides, I heard what happened between you and firepants on the airship yesterday!

They laugh.

JACK
What have you managed to find out so far?

LIZ
The man you saw me dancing with yesterday was Sal Cohen. An executive from the mineral mining division of Magna Corp.

JACK
This sounds promising.

LIZ
Globally the corporation control many markets from the production of alloys to military hardware.

JACK
Nothing we don't know of already.

LIZ
Patience, please. Well even though the corporation is responsible for sponsoring the race, most of the executives here at the tournament are from the mineral mining division.

JACK
So they had a good year.

LIZ
Ratio-wise they represent less than four percent of company employees.

JACK
Are you sure?

LIZ
I cross referenced the corporation's personnel records against the guest list from the hotel database.

JACK
Well that's a start.

LIZ
A damn good one.

JACK
This morning in the grandstand, there was an old guy sat next to Fincher.

LIZ
I saw him.

JACK
Any idea who he was?

LIZ
No but I'll see what I can come up with. Why, what are you thinking?

JACK
I'm not. You ready to show me what you've uncovered?

Liz nods.

JACK (cont'd)
Then let's go.

INT. GRAND HALL - BAR

In b.g., Liz leads Jack out of the hall by his hand.

TYLER
Will you look at that -- they're throwing themselves at him!

MARINA
He say he have his eye on someone. Maybe it her?

TYLER
If it is, then it's a good eye that's for sure. I'll drink to that.

MARINA
You drink to anything Tyler Bell.

TYLER
And if I don’t then you'll find me attractive, right?

MARINA
(turning)
That's no what I said, but if you wanted to find out, you could always sober up and see...

INT. ELEVATOR

Jack and Liz step into a large oak panelled bubble shaped elevator. Liz takes a key out from under her dress and inserts it into the controls. A scan cursor on the key moves from side to side until it BEEPS. They have system over-ride. Liz pushes the button for the basement and hands Jack the universal key.

LIZ
You may need it.

Jack takes the key. Liz produces a POCKETPAD (mini broadpad).

JACK
You keep anything else down there?

LIZ
We're going deep into the foundations of the complex. This contains detailed floor plans of the basement levels.

JACK
Who gathered the intel?

LIZ
I did. I've taken pictures where possible and the flashing regions represent where you want to head towards.

PING! The doors open.

INT. BASEMENT

They enter an ordinary service area corridor and duck in to a side room. The room is dimly lit. Mainframe terminals are dotted around. Stuffed inside a ventilation shaft, Liz removes a sports holdall. Inside there is a broadpad and a black jump suit which she hands to Jack. 

LIZ
This is from Felix. It's a state of the art Steltex suit on loan from the WSA.

JACK
The space agency?

LIZ
You can walk through laser, infra-red and ultra-violet security sensors without being detected -- but you have to walk slowly. This is a cat burglar's favourite friend. Look after it -- it isn’t insured.

A fine silver-wire lattice imprint sparkles in the light as Jack attempts to slip into the skin-tight suit --

JACK
You want to do this?

LIZ
I'm not the one with the jutsu  disciplines under my belt.

JACK
(fumbling with suit)
You can have all the training in the world, but they don't make it any easier to get into these damn things. Why do they have to make them so tight!?!

LIZ
I'll see you back in here in twenty minutes. Good luck lieutenant.

JACK
We're undercover. Ranks are dangerous.

LIZ
I think we're safe from prying ears.

Liz synchronises the times on her broadpad with Jack's pocketpad. An infra-red guidance beam illuminates from the palm sized unit. Jack puts his mask on. With the navigation device in hand, he climbs in to the narrow ventilation shaft and manoeuvres his way through.

INT. SERVICE TUNNELS

The shaft drops into an underground service tunnel. Vines of cables run and snake alongside water and gas pipes. Jack follows the directions on the pocketpad through a series of tunnels into --

INT. MAINTENANCE ROOM

A dead-end, this maintenance area is a large dank tomb-like room illuminated by low-watt house lights. The pipes and cables continue out of the room through the far wall but there is no further access for him. The pocketpad directions go no further.

High up on the wall, there is a steel door enclosed by a small veranda. Jack paces back three steps.

With a RUNNING JUMP, he LEAPS –- TWISTING THROUGH THE AIR like a drill as he rises and catches onto the ledge. FLIPPING himself up and over, Jack lands on the platform.

Universal key in hand, Jack opens the door --

INT. CORRIDOR

Peering round the door, Jack sees two scientists walking down a corridor. The corridor is well lit by spot-lights and gives the feeling that there are R&D labs behind the closed doors.

Jack follows the scientists as they turn and disappear into a room. Continuing to the end, Jack finds himself on a long balcony. The balcony overlooks --

INT. HANGAR

A massive underground hangar, deep in the bowels of the complex and carved in to the rock of the canyon. A fleet of fighter jets and three luxury Safina jump-jets are lined up alongside one another. Engineering super-machines, tools and equipment are sprawled all over -- a high-tech aviation workshop.

Jack FLIPS over the balcony, landing on the ground of the hangar. Walking over to one of the loading vehicles, Jack examines the contents -- a nest of lithium-moulded HORNET CLASS MIRV MISSILES.

JACK
Bingo.

The examination is cut-short by the PITTER-PATTER of footsteps heard running towards the hangar. Jack hides in a maintenance buggy.

D-Day and THREE GOONS enter through the tunnel carrying an array of motion and infra-red detectors.

D-DAY
Search everywhere for the intruder.

JACK
(mouths)
The intruder?

A FOURTH GOON catches up with the search party --

GOON #4
We found a maintenance door unlocked in munitions.

D-DAY
He must be in here somewhere.

The goons move their detectors around the room, but Jack does not show up due to his protective suit.

GOON #1
That's a negative on all sensors sir.

D-DAY
False alarm as expected. Call off the search.

The goons turn round to leave. D-Day looks at his infra-red detector one last time –- only this time a slit of heat registers onscreen.

ON JACK, who quickly raises his gloved hand over his eyes.

D-DAY (cont'd)
Hold it.

Heavy-footed, D-Day CLOMPS over to the darkened corner of the room for a closer inspection. Jack moves his hands away --

JACK
Boo!

Jack LAUNCHES himself out of the vehicle like a battering ram and piles straight in to D–Day's chest. With a SALAMI THUD D-Day is sent flying backwards into a cabinet of machine parts that collapse with an ALMIGHTY CLATTER.

DOUP! DOUP! The sounds of the goons discharging their automatic weapons into the darkness. Like a grasshopper, Jack bounces from wall to ceiling to wall and out of sight.

D-DAY (CONT'D)
Stop shooting! You may notice some nuclear armaments if you care to look around -- assholes.
(wrist to mouth)
Lights.

Flood lights come on. The goons creep around the assortment of boxes, missile cases, filing cabinets and machinery trying to locate the rogue intruder.

Finger on the trigger, one of the goons searches under the luxury passenger jet -- sweeping his gun from side to side. 

CRACK! From the wing of the plane, Jack SPINS A HIGH KICK through the air hitting the goon PLUM in the face -- sending him CRASHING into a stack of aero-tyres. The tyres roll away in all directions --

The other goons appear and surround Jack. Using a rolling aero-tyre as a springboard -- Jack performs an incredible feet of aerial arts as he JUMPS from one goon's head to another. 

Perplexed, the goons point their weapons upwards to get a fix on Jack -- but he is too quick and cunning and disappears over a stack of munitions boxes. They follow him into --

INT. WORKSHOP

A large side-room filled with drills, saws, tools. The goons give chase as the elusive intruder DUCKS and WEAVES through all the various machine wares. Just when one of the goons thinks he has him cornered -- Jack SOMERSAULTS over them. Slippery, teasing -- Jack shows all the hallmarks of ninja fighting; drunken style.

Once tired out, Jack commences his counter-attack. One goon is BODY SLAMMED against a machine saw. TWO CRASH into one another mid-air trying to grab Jack. The last goon is felled by a frisbee'd JAW CHUCK from a lathe.

D-Day walks in and surveys the damage. All men down, he looks sizeably unimpressed. He rolls his sleeves. Jack awaits -- fists clenched.

SUDDENLY -– they simultaneously attack one another. PAH-DA-PAH-PAH! A flurry of quick precision JABS, KICKS AND PUNCHES establishes both these men as highly skilled hand-to-hand combat marksmen. This is a brutally powerful battle. The fluid agility with which they fight, means not once do they knock over, fall or hit any of the machines dotted around the room. CLOSE-UP/BULLET-TIME camera work slows down lightning hits allowing us to see the fight dynamics. Although Jack is faster and more supple in movement, D-Day is altogether stronger and the more powerful of the two, wearing Jack down a lot quicker. Full contact BODY BLOWS send Jack flying.

Realising he is fighting a losing battle, Jack produces a WIRE YO-YO with a blue button from his pocket. Hooking one end to a machine saw -- with ENERGY-SEEPING SUPER-SPEED Jack skirts the edge of the room, stretching the wire around all the machines –- travelling full-circle in under a milli-second. D-Day is momentarily dazed by his opponent's agility.

Jack stops. D-Day surveys the room and then catches the thin fibre-optic wire GLINT under the lights. A look of dawning realisation creeps over D-Day's face: he's in big trouble.

Pressing the blue button, the wire TIGHTENS and REELS itself in, dragging everything within it together. Work-tables, angle-grinders, soldering equipment all come CRUSHING and IMPLODING in on themselves -– with D-Day trapped at the epicentre.

Within a second the action is over. The remnants of the implosion look like a cross between a tied bail of hay and scrap metal crushed by an impactor.

JACK
Consider this a crushing victory.

Jack exits.

INT. BASEMENT

Tired and bruised, Jack clambers out of the ventiliation shaft. Busily jamming away at her broadpad, Liz ignores Jack's safe return.

LIZ
What did you manage to find out?

JACK
Not enough, D-Day and his goons showed up.

LIZ
I wonder why. How's the suit?

JACK
I would have been better off without it. So much for the ancient art of stealth!

LIZ
What do you mean?

JACK
He kicked my ass.

LIZ
I should have told you, he's a champion body crusher -- you were out of your depth.

Jack throws her a look of disdain.

LIZ (cont'd)
So what did you find out?

JACK
They've built a hangar under here.

LIZ
A hangar? Was the SS2 in there?

JACK
Negative. Fincher has a fleet of military issue fighter planes and his luxury Safina jets but aside from that -– there's nothing out of the extraordinary. If anything extraordinary was down there -– he's moved it away.

LIZ
Or out of sight. Ready for some turbo intelligence?

JACK
Hit me.

LIZ
I hacked into the seating arrangements for the Columbia state grandstand. One of the two men sat next to General Fincher was a Pablo Santini. He's --

JACK
-- the vice president of Ventura.

LIZ
He's the highest profile political figure here at the tournament.

JACK
Ventura isn't exactly a dictator nation. What's Fincher's interest in him?

LIZ
Who knows? Perhaps Santini and Fincher plan on turning the tide.

JACK
Okay, what about the old guy?

LIZ
Officially he's listed as one of Fincher's commercial advisors for the race event.

JACK
Unofficially?

LIZ
It comes back to the notorious Magna Corporation once again. The public face of the corporation is a nobody. A John Doe. He changes all the time. That way they can make him a rogue trader one year and a capital high-flier the next. The real boss of Magna Corporation, the decision-maker behind the scenes -- IRS have never been able to expose him. The man sat next to Fincher –- I think it could be their elusive CEO.

JACK
You got a name?

LIZ
Yes, Renald Ablemight -- but it's an alias.

JACK
An anagram?

LIZ
If only it was that simple.

JACK
You think you can crack it?

LIZ
It's going to take some time.

JACK
See what you come up with. Let's get back to the party.

INT. ELEVATOR

PING -– Doors open and Jack and Liz step out. Liz ruffles Jack's hair and pulls the shirt out from behind his pants.

JACK
Hey!

LIZ
We could at least try to make this look convincing.

Jack yanks her bra strap off the shoulder. 

JACK
That convincing enough for you officer West?

LIZ
I thought you said ranks were dangerous?

JACK
Ranks, spanks.

INT. GRAND HALL

A hounded barman leaves Tyler to serve his own drinks from his own bottle. Marina is having a hard time holding down a conversation with the unstable alcoholic. 

TYLER
-- and with the winnings, I'm going to buy an island in the Mediterranean and call it La Costa Naranja.

MARINA
The orange coast?

TYLER
That's right. And I'm going to sit on the beach under a palm tree by night –- eating coconuts and drinking sangria to my hearts content.

MARINA
And by day?

TYLER
I'll sleep.

MARINA
And tha's it? Tha' your ambition?

TYLER
That's my paradise.

MARINA
You live and die like a pig and you call that paradise?

TYLER
(flips)
Hey! Who the hell do you think you are talking to me like that?

MARINA
Who I to talk to you like tha'? Who else going to tell you how it is Tyler Bell? I no hear you mention anyone else to tell you how stupid you are? You driving yourself into the ground and you no even notice!

TYLER
Listen sweetheart, I've just about had it up to here with your preaching and your insults. You want to know what you are to me. You're like everyone else I know. You're absolutely nothing! So why don't you take your sorry little latino pearls of wisdom back to Ventura because this drunken pig is getting a little tired of listening!

Jack and Liz overhear, but hold back from approaching.

TYLER (cont'd)
(stumbling away)
And what is it with calling me Tyler Bell? It's Tyler. Get it. Just plain old simple Tyler! Freaking witch...

Suddenly, Marina's generally relaxed demeanour falls apart, as she becomes a quivering wreck overcome by emotion. Without prompting, Liz goes over to console her and takes her into a cubicle. 

Jack catches Tyler from falling over into the bar.

INT. CUBICLE

LIZ
You okay?

MARINA
I sorry. I canno' help myself. When I see a man with so much pain -- it make me sad.

LIZ
Hey, that's nothing to feel bad about.

MARINA
I so stupid sometime. I try to help, but I end up saying the wrong thing.

LIZ
I'm sure he didn't mean what he said.

MARINA
He call me a freaking witch and tell me to take my sorry little latino pearls of wisdom back to Ventura. I think he mean' wha' he say?

LIZ
You're from Ventura?

MARINA
Yes.

LIZ
Marina, I know this may be a bad time but have you ever come across the company sponsoring the race before?

MARINA
Magna Corporation? Ci, they come to our island.

LIZ
What happened exactly?

MARINA
You want to hear the story? Some years ago we have minor tremors on the island, nothing serious but a thick, black substance rise to the surface. Our scientists think it molten rock until they test it.

LIZ
What did they find?

MARINA
It was oil. We very poor island community so my people enormously excited by the prospect. So our government contracted Magna Corporation to carry out soil analysis and oil exploration programme. My air squadron escort the exploration team to conduct their research.

LIZ
And what did they discover?

MARINA
Nada.

LIZ
Nothing at all?

MARINA
After a year of intensive searching they only find a trace amount. So our president may announcement and say wha' we don have we can't miss and so we return to our everyday lives. But is shame, it would have solved a lot of problems.
(perks up)
Why you so interested, you a journalist?

LIZ
Will you excuse me -- I just have to see Damian for a moment.

MARINA
(grabs her hand)
You want to talk to a man you met less than an hour ago about wha' I just said. You no journalist -- who are you people?

INT. BAR

On the bar stands the remnants of a half-drunk glass of orange and red bile. Tyler is sick, reeling -– on the verge of regurgitating.

TYLER
This your idea of a sick joke?

JACK
You feel better now?

TYLER
No, I feel sober. This your idea of a sick fucking joke?

JACK
You were drunk.

TYLER
That was the plan, asshole. What the hell is in that?

JACK
Liquorice. 

TYLER
It tastes of shit, and my head feels like its about to explode.

JACK
That's called a hang-over.

TYLER
You sober me up and then you give me a hang-over. Remind me to never go party-freaking with you.

JACK
You remember much?

TYLER
Yeah, so how was she?

JACK
I was talking about Marina?

TYLER
I've seen scorpions with less sting in their tail. She needs to watch what she says.

JACK
She was trying to help you.

TYLER
Then thank her for me, but I didn’t ask for any. Just like I didn’t ask to be sobered up. Barman!

JACK
You need to let her win the tournament.

TYLER
(pause)
Let me guess. You fell for all that jazz about her needing the money to help her people schmuck, didn't you?

JACK
Her intentions are sincere.

TYLER
It was a line! Women, hey. They never cease to amaze.

JACK
It's better than using the money to settle a bar tab...

TYLER
Hey back off Temple, before you make me do something I regret! You and I are enemies on the track and now we're enemies off it. Barman! A bottle of sambuca to take to my room.

The barman looks to Jack for approval.

TYLER (cont'd)
NOW!

The barman hands over the bottle. Tyler clocks Marina as he walks away, but blatantly ignores her. TIGHT on Jack's searching eyes.

INT. PENTHOUSE SUITE – NIGHT

In an office on the top floor of the Phoenix, General Fincher is sat behind a large oval desk. D-Day resolutely stands facing him, badly disfigured by the crush injuries and with an arm missing.

FINCHER
I hear we had a visitor.

D-DAY
We did.

FINCHER
And would it be wise of me to assume he escaped.

D-DAY
We almost had him sir.

FINCHER
He tripped our security system, took down four of your best men and disappeared without a trace and you wish me to believe you almost had him.

D-DAY
He was an unknown quantity.

FINCHER
Intruders normally are. What level assassin are we dealing with?

D-DAY
A taijutsu shidoshi. I was unable to secure a lock on him.

FINCHER
Neither could any of your clowns from the looks of things. What exactly am I paying you for?

D-DAY
He didn’t have a chance to uncover anything. That we can be sure off.

FINCHER
How nice to know you can be sure of something, but that's because he doesn't know where to look, not because you stopped him. Credit only where credit is due. How do you propose to rectify this problem?

Jessica steps forward carrying a decanter of scotch.

D-DAY
We've already increased guard rotation in the lower levels General.

FINCHER
And I wonder whose footing the bill for that. What do you think, Jessica? An adequate solution?

JESSICA
I have a better one General, if I may.

FINCHER
Go ahead.

Jessica raises the decanter, ejecting the liquid content over D-Day's head.

D-DAY
Why you!

With a SWEEPING ROUND-HOUSE, D-Day knocks Jessica's head loose from its robotic mounting -- her metallic neck-bones collapsing sideways. 
With a PNEUMATIC HISS (like a balloon being inflated), Jessica's heads pops straight again. Her eyes turn a deep red.

Grabbing D-Day by the neck in a vice-like lock, Jessica raises her other hand and –- WHACK! Bringing it down like a mallet, she SMASHES D-Day across the face with such MALEVOLENT FORCE, his bones SHATTER.  

Lifting him by the neck, Jessica DARTS FORWARD at full speed –- SMASHING through the window and launching D-Day from the office –- watching him fall to his death at the bottom of the canyon ravine.

Bombay Lau enters the room.

FINCHER
Seems engineering forgot to tell security we'd upgraded all the house robots. Lau, you'll be in charge of security from now on. Jessica, I need background checks on all competitors. Oh, and get that window fixed.

Lau nods and exit. Fincher turns to look at Jessica. She stands still and lifeless, very much like the robot she is.

									CUT TO:

EXT. RACEWAY – MORNING

The cars are lined up and rearing to go on the starting grid in qualification race order. Technicians are conducting final checks on the cars. The crowds are at fever pitch with anticipation and excitement. Enclosed weapons have been added to the cars that make them look more muscular –- like they've been steroid infused.

Super: Racetech Championship, Day Two

INT. KNIGHTSHADE

Sitting in pole position, Jack surveys his rear view screens where he sees Tyler looking over at Marina (deep in thought). A light on his ICS LINK flashes. Jack engages the incoming call --

DIEGO
(on screen)
Today, the cars hit back!

Jack turns the monitor off, focusing on the race ahead. POV as he blocks all else out of his mind (darkening). Tunnel vision sets in.

EXT. STARTING GRID

The clock counts down to the start of the race as technicians clear the pit area. Silence falls amongst the anticipating crowds. The constant hum of HIGH REVVING ENGINES consumes the starting grid. TIGHT on the drivers -- fraught and nervous faces. The last few seconds burn out --

TICK, TICK, BOOM!

Sounding like a BLANKET BOMBING, the cars BLAST away down the pit straight; passing a digital placard stating: WEAPONS UNARMED.

Knightshade speeds away maintaining pole position. Diego (in Veiled Aurora) holds position in second place.

INT. / EXT. GRAND DELUSION

With his left thruster failing to ignite, Tyler is sent into a HORIZONTAL SPIN.

TYLER
Shit!

The burning wheels kick a BLACK BOUILLON of smoke into the air.

Marina (Snow Boa) takes advantage by passing Tyler and racing in to third place, but she is over-taken herself by the most diminutive car on the circuit; the BIGOU PRIX.

Tyler re-aligns and embarks on his pursuit to play catch-up through the field.

EXT. RACEWAY - FIRST LAP

Jack builds up a commanding lead in pole over Diego. Marina battles for third place against ZULU OLOKA (driving the Bigou Prix).

EXT. RACEWAY - SECOND LAP

As Knightshade passes the grandstand to the ROAR and the appreciation of the crowds, the digital placard alters and heralds: WEAPONS ARMED. The two turret guns on either side of Jack's car spring out from the chassis and take aim towards the rear.

When Veiled Aurora passes the placard, long steel wings extend from the undercarriage -– giving the car the appearance of a lethal arrowhead. Shards of sunlight dance off the sheen on the blades.

EXT. GRANDSTAND

Watching both the live and the big screen action, spectators cheer as the race they all came to see begins.

EXT. RACEWACY - SECOND LAP – CONTINUED

The Bigou Prix simply rises fractionally from its wheel base on passing the digital placard, whilst the Snow Boa goes through a remarkable change as the metallic back section liquefies and solidifies taking on a sleeker aerodynamic form.

INT. GRAND DELUSION

Offering the option between "CONSERVE POWER" or "ENGAGE WEAPON" Tyler chooses the former upon his on-board computer.

TYLER
Let's kick some ass.

The car gathers momentum.

EXT. RACEWAY - HYMAN CURVE

Ahead of Grand Delusion is Jonas Wink in the spare Bristol Excelsior. PATOON-PATOON! Mounted automatic guns on the Excelsior point towards Grand Delusion firing PLASMA PELLETS.

Tyler jinxes and avoids the shots –- WHISKING past the Excelsior at the opportune moment and leaving Wink behind in his sights.

EXT. RACEWAY - BURELLO SWING

A section of the track with HUGE BOWED SWINGS in all directions, Tyler pits his wits against AVIN KHAN. His car (BARISA TONK) is armed with VIBRO-RAYS -- invisible beams that distort the straight line air and pulsate the enemy chassis on impact.

Desperate to destroy the pursuing Grand Delusion as it gathers ground, Khan fires his weapon. Tyler manages to WEAVE and DODGE the onslaught, avoiding the worst of the rays -- but not all.

DA-DA-DA-DA-DA! Tyler is unnerved as his chassis RATTLES VIGOROUSLY. He backs off –- too dangerous to proceed. With dislodged bolts and screws, Tyler fears the worst for his car. And then as if by divine intervention, the Gods look down upon him --

Busy working his weapons system, Khan does not notice a LOOP-THE-LOOP ahead, and as his car WHIPS round -- it suddenly FLIES off the edge off the road. There is only one way to go from here and that's down.

INT. GRAND DELUSION

Relief on the driver's face.

TYLER
That was easier than it should have been. 

EXT. RACEWAY - ESTORIL LEAP

The third car in succession Tyler races up to is the BITBURG HYBRID, driven by NICHOLAS SHRODER. Streams of MOLTEN WATER attack the bonnet of the Delusion -- MELTING the paint-work to an effervescent  cinder and BURNING through to the body-work.

Tyler slows the Delusion down, letting the distance increase between himself and the car in front. Hitting FULL THROTTLE, as the track coasters into a tear-drop -- Tyler short-cuts the dip by LEAPING across the gap and landing safely ahead of the Bitburg.

Nicholas curses in his German mother-tongue.

EXT. RACEWAY - CASA HAIRPIN

In the midfield, YUKI BANKS drives a bigfoot machine called the IKI SHIMA. As the car turns in to the hairpin, it suddenly lifts off the ground. Yuki checks her rear view --

Her car has been impaled by two giant spikes. The offending car is PEARL GREY driven by OSCAR HILL -- the weapon being a fork-lift contraption at the front. 

The Pearl tosses the Iki Shima over with ease -- sending the monstrous car CRASHING across the track. SMOKE AND DEBRIS litter the scene. 

Grand Delusion weaves through the carnage. Tyler is on the rampage.

EXT. GRANDSTAND – LATER

Cars STREAK across the start line to begin another lap as the crowds WHOOP and HOLLER. The leaderboard indicates the race order for lap nine.

EXT. RACEWAY - SPOONS CONSTRUCT

Hot on the heels of the Bigou, Marina is suddenly nudged from behind. Checking her rear sights, she too has been impaled by Pearl Grey.

Marina is a picture of calmness as the Snow Boa is slowly lifted from the track.

INT. / EXT. SNOW BOA

Engaging her weapon --

The back-end of the car suddenly melts (LIQUID METAL) and REFORMS itself once released from the clutches of the impaler. The Snow Boa crashes back onto the track.

MARINA
Is want to play cat and mouse?

With a look of unremitting determination, Oscar tries repeatedly to impale the Snow Boa but Marina easily administers the same escape.

MARINA (cont'd)
Is best the pussy cat can do?

With one final effort, Pearl impales and lifts the back corner of the Snow Boa –- but this time Marina's weapon system malfunctions and her tail-end does not liquefy and respond.

MARINA (cont'd)
Never a dog to chase the cat when you need one?

EXT. RACEWAY - SIERRA FALLS

Oscar laughs from his cabin, searching for open road (the Sierra Falls) from which to throw the trapped Snow Boa. As Marina fears for her own safety --

CRASH! The Snow Boa dislodges -- SLAPPING onto the circuit. Marina hits the NITRO and bolts away. Oscar looks round to see what hit him. There is a mirage behind him.

The mirage UNCLOAKS and the car reveals itself to be Grand Delusion –- invisibility being Tyler's secret weapon. On hitting the falls, Tyler rams into the Pearl and sends the car JETTISONING off the edge of the canyon. 

Oscar shoots out of the car in his jet-pack.

INT. / EXT. GRAND DELUSION

From the collision, Tyler develops a weapons problem of his own as the Delusion flashes between cloak and uncloak -– the car disappearing and reappearing. The car slows.

TYLER
C'mon baby, disengage and find me some power.

Whilst trying to rectify the problem on his computer, he is attacked from behind by a jet of smoke. The Bitburg Express has caught up --  and its German driver looks pissed.

EXT. RACEWAY

Under attack, the camouflage at the back of the Delusion is smudged off as the chassis and the thruster begin to BOIL OVER. The original paint-work starts to reappear through the steam and smoke. The temperature rises and Tyler finds it hard to keep his hands on the controls. ENVELOPED IN VAPOUR -- the car begins to burn both outside and in. Nicholas Shroder relishes his revenge. Only a miracle could save Tyler now: but for our unlikely hero miracles would seem to come in pairs.

An information screen flashes inside both cars: GIVE WAY - LAPPING CAR APPROACHING. 

In their rear views, Jack is fast approaching. The cars move aside systematically, buying Tyler precious seconds to fix his weapons. 

Jack passes. Tyler's system re-routes the power from weapons to speed and with a NITRO-FLASH -- Tyler PELTS it away before another barrage of high-pressure steam.

Nicholas curses in German once again.

EXT. RACEWAY - LIBRIUM SECTION

Diego sees Jack coming hard up his tail. The lapping car message flashes on Diego's information screen. As Jack levels up to pass, Diego suddenly SLAMS Knightshade, blades tearing through the undercarriage -- FRICTION SPARKS flying everywhere.

The crowds boo and jeer. Fincher stands, enraged by the unsportsmanship of his own driver.

The Veiled Aurora goes through a secondary transformation, as the chassis moves off the wheels and a far more sinister CIRCULAR BLADE appears from under the car. Knightshade drops back.  

Diego hits the brakes. Knightshade shoots past -– but is ripped apart by the rotating blade in the process. Jack engages his own weapon system. The turrets turn and a jet of water instantly freezes over the Aurora's cockpit. A petty weapon in comparison.

With the left wing having sustained severe damage, Knightshade's power starts dropping off rapidly. 

Diego rams Knightshade again, CRUSHING AND SANDWICHING the car against the wall. Sparks fly as Knightshade is SHREDDED from either side. Diego looks transfixed by his plan of total annihilation.

Jack quickly tries to compute a get-out plan as he sees Zulu Oloka racing up behind him in his sights. Realising the Bigou can only pass to his left -- Jack forces his car away from the wall and steers into the centre of the track. The Aurora continues to HACK through the chassis. The Bigou catches up and tucks in behind both cars.

Jack SLAMS the brakes –- the Aurora SPINNING three-sixty-degrees around Knightshade on its own blade! The Bigou hurtles straight into the Aurora as it comes full-circle and -- KA-BOOM! 

The speed of the impact OBLITERATES all three cars. The drivers automatically eject –- but due to the close proximity of the crash, the ejector seats of Diego and Zulu career into one another full-thrust and BANG! Fusing in to a molten ball, both drivers are instantly killed. Jack flies (jet-pack) up in the air.

EXT. RACEWAY - PARABOLA TURNS

Marina whizzes through the BLAZING INFERNO of the wreckage having moved in to first place. On checking her rear views she sees the road behind is clear.

She sighs. Out of thin air, a car materialises in front of her –- Tyler has gained ground. The race is on for first and second place.

Through the sector twists and turns, Tyler holds position with Marina unable to make a serious impression on his lead.

The crowds go ballistic as the cars make their way through the final turns.

INT. GRAND DELUSION

At the worst possible moment, Tyler develops a conscience --

JACK (V.O.)
You need to let her win the tournament.

TYLER (V.O.)
-- back off Temple, before you make me do something I regret!

MARINA (V.O.)
I no hear you mention anyone else to tell you how stupid you are? You driving yourself into the ground and you no even notice!

Tyler turns the cloaking mechanism back on again.

INT. SNOW BOA (MARINA'S POV)

Unable to see the car in front any more --

MARINA
What is he doing?

The cars slalom from left to right through the final turns.

EXT. RACEWAY – FINISHING POST

Grand Delusion reappears -– just as it LIFTS AND FLIES OFF the edge of a half pipe! Tyler ejects and glides away. 

Disbelief as Marina whizzes past, shooting down the final straight and over the finishing line into first place and victory. The crowds go wild. Fincher stands up to leave, unimpressed by a female champ.

The Snow Boa drives up a ramp onto the winners rostrum. The second and third placed cars also drive into position. Picking up champagne hoses, the drivers shower one another and serenade the new champion -– but a subdued Marina reveals a woman unconvinced by her own win. 

EXT. FINISHING GRID - AFTERNOON

Tyler lands and looks up to see the podium celebrations. Jack is also unstrapping from his jet-pack.

JACK
You were in the lead. What happened?

TYLER
So were you for most of the race, perhaps you should be telling me? 

JACK
You did the right thing.

TYLER
Hold that thought. We still have tomorrow to get through yet.

Tyler moves away. Flanked by his security staff, Fincher approaches Jack.

FINCHER
Your skills are most impressive. I believe an apology is in order on behalf of my team.

JACK
None required. Your driver got what he deserved. Perhaps he should have taken a leaf out of your book when it comes to sportsmanship -- General.

In SLOW MOTION, Jack pops a matchstick in his mouth and turns his back to Fincher. A look of recognition, and then it dawns on him -- 

FINCHER
Lau, the list I asked for. Forget it. I have a strong feeling I know who our night-crawler is.

									DISSOLVE TO:

INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR – DUSK

Looking glitzy in her evening dress, Marina walks hurriedly down a corridor frantically searching through her purse. She is clearly distressed.

Elevator doors PING open and Tyler comes chasing after her. 

TYLER
Hey, hey, hey -- where are you going?

MARINA
What do you want?

TYLER
You can't have a victory party without the victor!

MARINA
Please, just leave me alone.

They stop as Marina fumbles around by her door, still searching for the card with which to open it. Tyler blocks the entrance.

TYLER
Just what is it with you?

MARINA
(turning)
How could you?

TYLER
How could I what?

MARINA
Why don' you stop insulting my intelligence and tell me why you throw the race and let me win?

Tyler becomes unstuck.

MARINA (cont'd)
So is true. Well now I know -- 

TYLER
It wasn't my idea. Ice suggested it.

MARINA
Oh this get better and better -- you all in on this together!

TYLER
I thought your people needed the money?

MARINA
So now I a charity case? You know how small you make me feel today on tha' podium?
(shows it)
This small. Well this poor girl don' need help from you or anyone. So if you don' mind, get out of my way and let me go to my room!

TYLER
(beat)
No.

MARINA
Wha' you say?

TYLER
I said no.

MARINA
(fighting)
Get out, get out, GET OUT!

Tyler grabs Marina's hands and stops her from pounding his chest any further. A spirited fighter, Marina won’t give in easily. A fighter too, neither will Tyler.

Marina jerks to release his grip, but Tyler is too strong. Looking him straight in the eye, she tries again -– but is held rigid.

The fire has gone from her struggle though. Her eyes take on a seductive quality and she drops her defences. Locked in each other's gaze, time stands still. The tension mounts to breaking point -- until Tyler swiftly moves in and kisses her. High passion -- hard and fast. Like childhood sweethearts rekindling their love for one another. They break free.

MARINA
Why did you do it?

TYLER
I had a rethink of my ambitions.

MARINA
You taste of oranges.

TYLER
Juice don't taste so bad on its own.

MARINA
I would have beaten you.

TYLER
Is that your way of thanking me?

MARINA
I don’t thank losers... Tyler.

They are about to kiss again, when --

JESSICA
Please excuse the intrusion, but General Fincher kindly requests your presence on the Gralmano terrace Mr Bell.

TYLER
What about?

No reply.

TYLER (cont'd)
Well if you don't know what it's about then thank him for the invitation, but tell him I'm otherwise preoccupied.

Jessica's eyes burn a bright orange filament.

JESSICA
The General does not like to be kept waiting.

MARINA
Go, is seem important -- come and see me when you done.

TYLER
Fine. The General can have my undivided attention but I'm not happy about this Jessica.

MARINA
Come back quickly. I wan' to talk to you about something -- is about Damian and Elizabeth.

TYLER
And I thought it was going to be my lucky night.

MARINA
That you have to wait and see.

Tyler follows Jessica towards the elevator.

INT. MARINA'S SUITE

Marina walks through and closes the door behind her. She rests her back against the door. A post-coital smile on her face. She switches the light on to find --

The room has been ransacked. As she moves forward to investigate -—

SNATCH! Out of the shadows, a figure grabs her from behind and WRAPS a gloved hand round her mouth. Her screams are futile. The figure steps into a shard of light -– it is Bombay Lau. Kicking back, Marina catches him on the shin and manages to break free.

INT. ELEVATOR DOORS

As Jessica and Tyler step into the elevator, Marina's door opens in b.g. A MUFFLED SCREAM -– as the door slams shut as quickly as it opened.

Tyler looks down the corridor but does not see anything. A look of trepidation on his face. A single drop of blood leaks from his nose. The elevator doors close.

EXT. TERRACE

The doors open on an upper lawned terrace of the complex illuminated by landing lights. Fincher stands at the top of a ramp, in the doorway of his luxury Safina jet aeroplane. The engines are running. The scene is a picture postcard with the fading light of dusk overlooking the Canyon.

FINCHER
It's been a long time Tyler.

TYLER
Didn't think you'd remember me Tom.

FINCHER
How could I forget -- forgive me for interrupting your evening.

TYLER
Where are we going?

FINCHER
Please...

Tyler steps onboard, escorted by Jessica.

EXT. SKY

We float like gods over a darkening cloud cover.

The orange glow of the nitro afterburners cuts out, easing the plane to a soft high-altitude cruise.

Super: Pacific Ocean, 400 Miles West of San Diego

INT. COCKPIT

A spacious and luxurious cabin, Fincher commandeers the plane whilst Tyler observes from the passenger seat. Tyler looks around –- marvelling at the simplified instruments on the control panel. The clouds clear. Tyler sips on a glass of juice.

TYLER
It's quite a toy you have here.

FINCHER
You should see what kind of games it can play. What do you see down below?

TYLER
Islands. A group of them.

Fincher turns a screen on that shows the geographic landscape. 

FINCHER
Not just any group of islands. The paradise islands of Ventura to be precise.

TYLER
What is this about Tom?

FINCHER
Now look at this...

The graphic changes to illustrate the geology of the islands. There are small pockets of blue on the super-imposed image.

TYLER
What am I looking for?

FINCHER
Some years ago, an exploratory team prospected the islands to find out if it held any mineral wealth. They uncovered the presence of two valuable materials. One of them, the blue areas are reserves of Italite -- the ore used by the military to produce Protex.

TYLER
Otherwise known as clear liquid metal.

FINCHER
Precisely, the very foundation of modern stealth warfare. It's the silver areas deep below these that we're interested in though.

At the touch of a button, the image displays wide areas of silver under the islands that stretch way beyond the coastline.

TYLER
What are they?

FINCHER
What the world is finding it increasingly harder to find and produce. Pure refined omega grade fuel. Otherwise known as --

TYLER
Oil.

FINCHER
Man's greatest source of energy. Precisely.

TYLER
This all makes for a fascinating geography lesson but why are you showing me all this?

FINCHER
Why do you think you're here at my tournament Tyler?

TYLER
You invited me, and I liked the prize money on offer. But now I'm not so sure.

FINCHER
So you're willing to risk life and limb for financial gain?

TYLER
If the price is right.
(his nose starts to twitch)
Listen, I --

FINCHER
-- have to get back to your date. Yes, of course. Jessica, plot a return course to the Phoenix... Mach Sixteen.

TYLER
That's not possible.

FINCHER
Anything's possible Tyler... if the price is right. Buckle up soldier --

The lights in the cockpit dim and, the simplified controls sink to be replaced by a new high-tech control panel. Space-age instrumentation emerges: radars, weapons controls, altitude and longitude dials, telemetry gauges filling the cockpit. 

Tyler sits back in disbelief.

EXT. SAFINA JET

The colour of the jet changes to silver and the shape morphs (elongates) in to a longer more streamlined dynamic. From a luxury cruise airliner the jet has transformed into a deadly silver spy plane. At ULTRA SONIC SPEED -- the jet shoots forward, TEARING through the sky and creating the most incredulous SONIC BOOMS.

FINCHER
The greatest wars have been won from the skies, but what if the enemy came in disguise. Welcome to the mark two Silver Stealth.

TYLER
That can't be. The designs were destroyed.

FINCHER
Lucky for me someone had a Xerox.

TYLER
What's the reason for all this?

FINCHER
In forty-eight hours, three fully operational SS2s will be used to blanket bomb the presidential palace on Ventura.

TYLER
You're going to assassinate the president?

FINCHER
For oil Tyler. Reserves of oil he nor his people are even aware of.

TYLER
How do you plan to get away with this?

FINCHER
Our good friends at Magna Corporation were contracted to conduct the oil exploration programme on the islands. In the name of consolidating their own mineral interests, they fabricated the findings. Since then they have funded the vice president's campaign and rise to office.

TYLER
A puppet.

FINCHER
A puppet who will make them incredibly rich!

EXT. CANYON – NIGHT

Under the cover of darkness, the SS2 silently swoops down towards the Canyon rock face below the Phoenix Complex. The SS2 piles straight into the rock –- which turns out to be a holographic projection.

INT. HANGAR

The SS2 comes in to land in the secret underground complex. 

TYLER
So this whole tournament's about oil?

FINCHER
Not even close. This tournament is about recruiting the pilots to fly these remarkable machines. I run a private defence firm Tyler -- available for hire by anyone willing to pay the fee.

TYLER
And I guess the corporation offered good terms. What was it? A major stake-hold in the company provided more than adequate remuneration?

FINCHER
Defence doesn’t come cheap.

TYLER
Is that what you call it -- so what do want with me?

FINCHER
I thought that would be obvious by now. The best planes will always need the best pilots.

TYLER
I haven’t flown in years.

FINCHER
If you can still fly like you drive, then I have nothing to fear.

TYLER
I'm a former policeman Tom. How can I justify killing innocent people in the name of oil?

FINCHER
Because you're a broke former policeman.

TYLER
And the pay cheque you're about to offer me makes me a vulnerable candidate to carry out your ruse I imagine. Your intelligence impresses me. But you underestimate me if you think you can buy me. I may be broke but you and your friends have got me all wrong if you think I'm going to kill innocent people in the name of corporate profiteering.

Fincher looks out of the window and sees Bombay Lau standing on the landing deck under a singular spotlight. Lau nods his head.

FINCHER
You disappoint me.

TYLER
We all know how this game works so if you're going to kill me, I suggest you do it now. Otherwise I think our business is concluded -- General.

FINCHER
Well if you won't do it for me --

Fincher flicks a screen on. It shows Marina tied and gagged in a dark interrogation room.

FINCHER (cont'd)
Do it for your date.

TYLER
What, some broad I met yesterday?

FINCHER
Then you won't care if Lau has his way with her?

TYLER
You always get what you want Tom?

FINCHER
Just think of it as eradicating a few low-breed politicians. 
(hands over a shortpad)
You'll find all you need to know on here. There'll be a mission briefing tomorrow at sixteen-hundred hours. Oh, and there's one other thing I'd like you to do before you go lieutenant.

TYLER
Former. I'm listening.

FINCHER
One of the competitors is a spy. I want him destroyed on the track tomorrow.

TYLER
Who is it?

FINCHER
Someone you know quite well. He goes by the alias of Damian Ice.
(beat)
Do we have an agreement lieutenant?

Taking his chances, Tyler suddenly LUNGES FORWARD to hit Fincher with the shortpad across the head. Jessica has been keeping a watchful eye on proceedings however and shoots a poisoned dart in to his neck. Tyler collapses.

FINCHER (cont'd)
I'll take that as a yes then.

Fincher sighs, and walks over the unconscious body.

INT. BASEMENT LEVELS - CONTINUOUS

In darkness, Jack creeps along the underground corridors to the long balcony overlooking the hangar.

Below him, Jack makes out Fincher, Bombay Lau and Jessica (Tyler's body flung over shoulder) exiting the hangar. 

Jack's shortpad displays an infra-red view of the hangar. He sweeps  past the fleet of fighter jets and as he scans the three luxury passenger jets, the central one is undisguised. Jack studies the image closely –- witnessing the SS2 for the first time.

JACK
Jackpot. 

He transmits the image. Hearing footsteps, Jack ducks through a door along the balcony --

INT. COFERENCE ROOM

The meeting room has a round oak table with large leather armchairs dotted around it. A mural sized plasma screen and futuristic video machine are built into the wall.

Jack presses play on the video machine. A 3-D colour holographic representation of Ventura rises in the centre of the table. The digital image moves; scaling up and down in size and illustrating an aerial attack on the presidential palace. The room smells to high heaven of war planning.

Horror crosses Jack's face as he watches the suited ageing figure that appears on the screen --

MISSION BRIEFING – STOCK

F.G. A table with a golf club lying across it. The back of a leather armchair --

Super: The President of Magna Corporation

ADMIRAL LEONARD WELLS
(spins round)
Gentlemen. You have been carefully selected and chosen to carry out this most critical of missions to secure the future of our organisation as a global enterprise --

Jack notices a triangular name placard on the table. He flips it. The name reads: TYLER BELL.

SUDDENLY, the door flies open and six security guards burst in and ambush the room. The video keeps playing. In a tenacious display of superlative strength Jack picks up one of the bulky leather swivel armchairs and HURLS it across the room like a projectile, knocking a guard out cold in the process. Multi-vitamins have come a long way.

Expertly manipulating a second chair as a shield, Jack defends himself from a two-pronged attack from either side. Reminiscent of a Golden Harvest movie, the chair is utilised as a martial prop -– interlacing and interweaving into the orchestrated choreography of the fight sequence. CONCUSSING his two attackers with the chair, Jack rolls onto the table and removes his mask. Three down, three to go.

Jack drops a gas canister and PHUFF! Enveloped by a cloud of smoke, the guards are instantly disorientated by the thick mist.

POW! WHA! A blurred ballet of lethal moves as hand and feet pop out from the cloud knocking out the remaining guards. Bruce Lee on Viagra. The video continues --

ADMIRAL LEONARD WELLS (V.O.)
-- when your more than adequate fees will be deposited to your accounts on verification and confirmation of the president's death --

The smoke dissipates through the CATALEPTIC GROANS of the fallen security faction. Jack FLINGS the yo-yo accessory upwards which hooks in to the ceiling. Using the wire as a pendulum, he swings across the room –- but the door automatically SLAMS shut, knocking him to the floor. 

A new image appears on screen --

FINCHER
Damian Ice aka Jack Knight. Son of legendary pilot returns to avenge his father's death. Right story, wrong headline. You would have had me fooled with that disguise of yours had it not been for that incessant give-away.
(mockingly pops match in his mouth)
Shame. You should have left that family habit where it belonged... in the grave with your father. I hope you had children Jack, otherwise this is where the family legacy ends. Knight, Knight.

Jack has been busy stumbling around trying to locate an exit, but just as Fincher finishes his speech -– the room is gassed. Jack passes out.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM

CAMERA MOVES UP the back of a chair where a woman is seated –- bound and gagged. We assume this is Marina. Hidden behind their masks, two gravel-voiced THUGS torment the captive.

THUG #1
Listen lady, this ain't no good cop, bad cop deal. Because we ain't no cops. We're two bad motherfuckers and we only get paid based on the information we extract from you. So unless you enjoy eating lead for dinner, I suggest you start talking.

The thug removes the gag but the woman remains silent.

THUG #2
You may think you're some tough cookie - cookie, but we will break you and all you're doing is wasting our time and our time is precious. So I'm going to give you until the count to three, and unless you decide to tell us what we want to know, well then this game is over. One...

THUG #1
What are you doing?

THUG #2
Two!

THUG #1
We agreed, no ultimatums!

THUG #2
Three!

Finger PUMPING the second thug fires his Casull Revolver into her chest. Why miss the action: his partner joins him, unloading metal. Short, sharp and fast blasts –- immensely powerful. Gun smoke thickens the room as empty shells bounce off the floor like dice. 

The chair falls back and crashes to the ground rocking on its side. The door opens. The men stand to attention.

FELIX
So I bust my balls to get you these training simulations and this is how you jerk me off?

The TWO THUGS (SOLDIERS) break into uncontrollable laughter.

FELIX (cont'd)
Help her up for chrissakes!

They untie the hostage and help her to her feet. The woman is also a soldier, equally amused by the whole episode. 

FELIX (cont'd)
Listen up, intel just in. Confirmation and schematics have been received detailing Fincher's operations at the tournament. Arrest warrants have been issued for General Thomas Fincher and Admiral Leonard Wells -- previously thought to be dead by the state and whereabouts unknown. All relevant agencies have been notified and are standing by for further instruction.

WOMAN SOLDIER
What kind of instruction?

FELIX
We're currently awaiting authorisation to wage a fully loaded D-Con five assault upon the enemy target. The General would appear to be up to his old tricks and building unsanctioned warplanes. 

THUG #1
Why are we going in so heavy-handed sir?

FELIX
Because you haven't seen what he's built...

Felix looks down at his broadpad showing an infra-red of the SS2.

									CUT TO:

EXT. RACEWAY – STARTING GRID - DAY

The HOLLER of nitrogen engines.

Super: Racetech Championship, Final Day

Jack awakes from his drug induced sleep sitting in Knightshade. All systems are on. In his rear sights Tyler in Grand Delusion is tucked in behind him. 

Tyler looks worn, ragged -– like a chronic insomniac off his medication. Jack tries to contact him on the ICS LINK. The screen blinks: ACCESS DENIED. He tries to open the electronic lock on his canopy instead but is STUNG by a sharp electric shock.

Jack surveys the starting line-up to see he is way down the field. The Snow Boa in pole position has tinted windows. The spectators are unaware of the house robot in its drivers seat. Cars edge -- eager to break away.

Looking up at the packed arena, Jack sees that Eddie Sterling and his boys are being held by Fincher's men. Fincher smirks.

A quick assessment as a heavy-headed Jack digests all the information and computes the scenario -- things look not good. The dying seconds as the clock expires for the last time...

TICK, TICK, BOOM!

A spark and the Snow Boa EXPLODES. The cars SKITTLE away down the pit straight avoiding the FLYING DEBRIS.

Jack does not have time to react and is RAMMED from behind by Grand Delusion -- shrapnel SPLINTERING off his fuselage. Jack refocuses -– hits the gas.

A succession of manoeuvres pulls Knightshade up through the tail-end of the field. There is a snag though –- his nitro-thrusters will not fire allowing Grand Delusion to stick to him like glue.

INT. / EXT. KNIGHTSHADE

On the second lap, Knightshade passes the digital placard stating: WEAPONS ARMED.

The turret mounted water jets extend from the chassis and take aim at the looming presence of Grand Delusion. Target on screen, Jack fires. Nothing happens. The screen flashes: WEAPON SYSTEM FAILURE.

JACK
Surprise, surprise.

Grand Delusion cloaks itself.

EXT. RACEWAY – SECOND LAP 

Enjoying the spectacle like a Roman emperor, Fincher sneers at Jack's demise.

Jack fights to keep control of Knightshade as it SLIPS, SLIDES AND SKIDS –- blind to attack and being nudged and unsettled by the invisible Delusion. 

The race pans out leaving only hunter and hunted left to battle on a clear stretch of track.

EXT. RACEWAY - BURELLO SWING

Through this high meandering sector of the course, Jack finds it difficult to stave off Tyler's increasingly vicious wave of attacks. DENTS and CRACKS appear aplenty as the chassis is put through the immense stresses of twenty-second century racing.

Jack re-calibrates, diverting power to speed transmission. Knight- shade gathers pace and momentum.

EXT. RACEWAY - SIERRA FALLS

Tyler de-cloaks to return power to his transmission. The track narrows to a lane. Knowing he is in a no-win scenario Jack has an idea --

SLAMMING the anti-inertia brakes and spinning the car across the track Jack blocks off the route to all oncoming cars. With Grand Delusion following in close pursuit, impact is inevitable. Correction -- impact is imminent! Jack whacks the emergency release button and his (ejector) seat ROCKETS skywards. In the following split-second -- Jack pulls out a MAC-45 Machine Pistol from under his seat, releases his belt and JUMPS from the rising jet-pack nodule.

SHEEOW-BANG! Grand Delusion slices through Knightshade, cutting it in half and BLAM! The fuselage IGNITES generating an EPIC FIREBALL. Grand Delusion rolls through the blast radius.

CLICK-CA-CHING-CLICK! Jack blasts the canopy on Grand Delusion with his pistol -- CRASHING through and landing behind Tyler's seat. 

With little space to move, Jack grabs Tyler by the neck. The eyes are back -– Jack is in THE ZONE.

JACK
One of Fincher's men all along you son of a bitch!

TYLER
Marina's been kidnapped -- I'm being blackmailed.

JACK
Marina's dead!

TYLER
She wasn't in the car that exploded.

Jack turns to see that the other cars are catching up.

JACK
You better not be lying to me.

TYLER
And what about you Iceman?

Jack removes his glasses.

TYLER (cont'd)
Jack?

JACK
Drive.

EXT. GRANDSTAND

Fincher sees what is unfolding on the big screen. A SENIOR GUARD leans forward and Fincher has a quiet word in his ear --

FINCHER
Send out the race marshals. Blow them off the track.

INT. HANGAR

A projection inside Liz's glasses guides her through the lair. Guards are few and far between and are easily evaded.

Fully automated (robotic) crane arms install the last consignment of MIRV missiles into the SS2 munitions loading bays. The delicacy of the liquid inside the transparent warheads carries all the hallmarks one associates with thermonuclear activity.

Liz installs a series of micro-bombs around the hangar and office corridors.

INT. OFFICE

Gagged and bound to a chair in just her underwear, Bombay Lau hovers over a fearful Marina.

With a look of incestuous perversity, Lau slowly gets down on his knees and removes one of Marina's feet from their shackles. Placing her soft-skinned sole onto his shoulder –- he rubs his cheek against her foot and closes his eyes. Pure ecstasy for one -- sheer terror for the other.

With a limb free, Marina realises this may be her only chance of escape. Rubbing and teasing her ankle and toes back and forth over Lau's euphoric face, Marina suddenly pulls her leg back and KWHACK! Kicks Lau precise in the jaw with the heel of her foot. He falls back -– knocked out cold.

She wriggles out of her mouth gag and screams for help. 

INT. CORRIDOR

Having placed and set two more bombs, Liz hears muffled screams from behind a nearby door. She ventures in --

INT. OFFICE

MARINA
Liz, untie me quick!

LIZ
What happened?

MARINA
We don' have much time. He about to wake up --

Having loosened Marina's shackles, bar one leg -- Liz turns to see Lau stirring on the ground. She goes over to kick him across the face to keep him down -– but with quick REFLEX HANDS he catches her leg before impact –- wrenching Liz to the ground.

With her free leg, Liz SWEEP-KICKS Lau across the face. He flinches impassively.

Liz spreads her legs wide open and rapidly brings them together. The momentum of the motion makes her SPIN on the ground like a breakdancer -– locking Lau's arm in between her legs. With a BACKWARD FLIP she rolls into an upright position –- ready to fight.

Lau places a finger tip to the ground and FLICKS his entire body-weight vertical. Nifty move.

Still shackled to the chair -- Marina KICKS out hoping the metallic framed object may inflict some damage upon their attacker. Lau is too quick though -- knocking the chair to the ground. With her free leg, Marina launches an AERIAL ROUND HOUSE -– pinpointing Lau's chest and PINGING him across the room.

Liz grabs Marina's arm and drags her (and attached chair) towards the door. Retrieving himself -- Lau SOMERSAULTS over and SIDE-SWEEPS the chair (and hence Marina) pulling them both back inside.

Attempted escape having failed, Liz is left no option but to assume a fighting stance. Lau smiles -– hand-to-hand combat being his forte. UNLEASHING his raw power in a torrent of abuse -- Liz is punished by the grave and severe onslaught; back-pedalling -- defensive all the way.

Marina releases the shackle as Liz hits the deck. She helps her to her feet. Liz breathes hard as they face the fervent savage for a second round.

LIZ
He's good.

MARINA
And angry. Let's run.

LIZ
He'll catch us.

MARINA
What shall we do?

Lau removes his shirt and flexes his steroid saturated torso. The girls look uneasily at one another.

EXT. RACEWAY

We ride with an all-black race marshal's car. From behind, another two race-marshals appear from either side of the lead car. The front car accelerates away.

INT. GRAND DELUSION 

Jack shuffles and gets more comfortable in the narrow gap behind the driver's seat. Tyler looks up at one of the giant spectator screens --

TYLER
We got marshals on the track.

JACK
(raising his handgun)
You drive, I'll cover.

Tyler zips away.

EXT. RACEWAY

The first marshal catches up. A front panel flips forward revealing a line of missiles. The driver looks down at his screen trying to engage a missile lock on Grand Delusion which slides from left to right.

Weapon in hand, Jack tries to shoot at the car but is thrown from side-to-side -- Tyler SWERVING WILDLY to avoid the missile lock. Jack remains calm, looking through his sights waiting for the perfect moment to fire. When he has a clean shot, he pulls the trigger only once -- 

EXT. MARSHAL'S CAR

We RIDE with the bullet as it hits a bolt on the wing of the car. The bolt PINGS off. The driver looks down at the wing.

SUDDENLY -– the whole wing RIPS UPWARDS, and the drag FORCES the car to FLIP HIGH UP into the air before a TUMULTUOUS CRASH brings it back down to earth.

A second marshal speeds under whilst the car is suspended to take up the chase.

INT. OFFICE

We join the girls in the throes of battle. Liz attacks with flying fists (SLICES, CUTS, PUNCHES, CHOPS) whilst Marina strikes at Lau's lower body (KICKS, SWEEPS, ROUNDHOUSES). 

A super-fit fighter -- Lau only lets one or two shots penetrate his fortified defences. For all their efforts to swap positions and vary the attack -- Lau fends them off easily and every time. 

Crushed and beaten -- Lau throws them into the corner of the room. He looks ready to finish the job --

MARINA
What are we going to do?

LIZ
If this doesn’t work, then I don’t know.

MARINA
If what doesn't work?

As Lau looms ominously near, Liz conjures up her final ounce of strength and leaps to her feet. She extends her arm and SLAPS him across the face -– but this is a THOUSAND HAND SLAP and it is over in a flash!

Lau stands gazing at her for a moment –- before the bulk of his frame comes crashing to the ground; TEETH SPLAYING out everywhere.

MARINA
Why didn't you do that earlier?

LIZ
Because this happens --
(she holds up a dislocated dead hand)
Let's get out of here.

Liz removes an MP5 portable machine handgun from his pocket. They exit.

INT. CORRIDOR

The girls stumble into the corridor when the coast is clear. Liz takes out her shortpad.

MARINA
Which way do we get out?

The shortpad reads: TIME TO DETONATION, 2 MINUTES 24 SECONDS. Liz ponders.

EXT. RACEWAY

The second marshal launches a LAW rocket at Grand Delusion. Through a half-pipe -- Tyler is able to swing the car round the tube and away from the oncoming path of the projectile.

EXT. RACEWAY - CANYON LEAP

Nitros flaring -- Grand Delusion arcs high over a gorge so deep it appears to descend into oblivion. Jack looks back and takes aim.

As the second marshal lifts off; Jack spots a row of exposed LAW rockets on the underbelly of the marshal's car and fires -– KABOOM!

A shower of sparks as the car EXPLODES over the gap.

INT. GRAND DELUSION

JACK
How many showing?

TYLER
(views screens)
Three more.

JACK
(taking aim)
Piece of cake.

EXT. GRANDSTAND

The crowds boo and jeer; leaving in disgust as the championship disintegrates into anarchy. Fincher watches the screen to see Grand Delusion blow the last of the marshals off the track.

FINCHER
(to Jessica)
Send for the SS2.

INT. SAFINA JET

The control panel lights up and the plane moves forward -- unmanned.

INT. HANGAR

TIGHT on a micro-bomb counting down the last few seconds to detonation --

EXT. CANYON

BLAMMO! We WIDEN to reveal a COSMIC EXPLOSION from the clandestine hangar below the Phoenix Complex. The Safina jump-jet flies out and away from the MUSHROOMING blast zone.

EXT. GRANDSTAND

The spectator stands go wild with hysteria on hearing what sounds like a canyon DEPTH-CHARGE exploding.

The Safina jet flies towards the stand generating even more havoc and fear within the unknowing crowds. As the jet hovers -- a walkway extends from the grandstand and Fincher steps aboard.

EXT. MILITARY BASE - DESERT

Smoke and dust swirl by the rotor-wash as Felix and his team step onto a military helicopter. The super-chopper takes off to reveal an entire armada of them already airbound -- covering the skyline like a flock of seagulls. The BELL 607 choppers are armed to the nines and stealth like in appearance.

EXT. SAFINA JET (SS2)

Fincher and Jessica are at the controls. The plane rises –- changing shape into its real guise and bullets away from the grandstand.

INT. GRAND DELUSION

TYLER
We haven’t got a hope in hell of out running that thing.

JACK
Cloak the car and get as high up the Canyon as you can.

EXT. RACEWAY 

An arsenal of missile and rockets are dropped from the SS2 destroying everything from race-cars to the track itself.

INT. SS2

FINCHER
Come out, come out, wherever you are --

EXT. RACEWAY

Cluster bombs are released. They drop towards the track that Grand Delusion is fast approaching.

INT. GRAND DELUSION

JACK
Get out of here, go, go, go!

Tyler disengages the cloaking mechanism and floors the car.

SCHNIGGG-POP-POP-POP-POP! As the cluster bombs detonate one after another behind them, Tyler out-runs the blast radius and the falling track. They have escaped –- but now they are uncloaked and exposed.

EXT. RACEWAY

Having spotted Grand Delusion -- Fincher flies forward to another leap segment of track in the direction the car is heading. As the SS2 hovers -- it OBLITERATES the segment of track by creating a hole of VOLCANIC proportions.

INT. GRAND DELUSION

Incoming on the ICS LINK --

FINCHER
(on screen)
You disappoint me gentlemen. What fun and games are to be had if you make yourselves so easy to find? Still, I’d be impressed if you could make the quantum leap ahead of you. I made the gap a little wider to make the challenge that much more interesting.

TYLER'S POV -- in the distance the track has been bombed with a leap that the car cannot possibly make.

JACK
You call that a challenge? A challenge would be hiding a secret spy plane that doesn’t seem to be so secret anymore.

The comment riles Fincher. Screen off.

INT. SS2

Fincher places a missile lock on the moving car. He is about to fire when --

EXT. SKY

The other two SS2s suddenly appear behind Fincher's plane. 

INT. MARINA'S SS2

MARINA
Hola, General!

Marina fires a rocket. Liz (in the other SS2) dives away.

EXT. SKY

Fincher dives -- depressing the trigger and releasing the missile. Marina's rocket whizzes past -- clipping the tail fin of Fincher's plane. Temporarily out of control -- Fincher struggles to regain stability.

EXT. RACEWAY

BOOM! Fincher's missile hits the oncoming track in front of Grand Delusion. A SOLENOID SCREECH -- Tyler locks the brakes.

Tyler and Jack sit still as the track RIPPLES away in front of them.

VWHOOSH! The car plummets with the falling track.

EXT. GRAND DELUSION

Tyler hits the emergency release and EJECTS. Jack holds onto the back of the seat as it rises. The jet FIRES-UP. Tyler releases himself from his safety belt and turns to help Jack. Jack is slipping --

JACK
I can't hold on.

TYLER
Just hang in there!

EXT. SKY

Jack lets go. Tyler follows him grabbing the belt as he leaps. Swinging through the air -- Tyler GRABS Jack.

The exertion and swing of the belt causes the ejector seat to TURN with the counter-balance. 

Tyler lets go of the belt and they both free-fall --

TYLER & JACK
Ahhhhh!

INT. / EXT. LIZ'S SS2

Tyler and Jack fall through the open canopy and hit the cockpit deck.

LIZ
Happy to see me?

TYLER & JACK
GO!

Liz JOLTS the plane awkwardly forward, just as the jet pack plummets through the airspace where they had been hovering. Jack looks up from the cockpit floor.

JACK
What happened to your hand?

EXT. SKY

Marina pursues Fincher -- matching him move for move.

Fincher ducks in between the smaller canyons -- twisting sideways and flying dangerously close to the canyon walls. Marina stays right on his tail -- slowly gaining.

As Fincher SAILS UPWARDS; Marina fixes a missile lock on him. She shoots.

Fincher HITS the airbrakes and both the missile and Marina's SS2 fly-by. Fincher returns fire –- pinpointing the absconded missile and Marina's SS2 in two shots.

The tail end of Marina's plane BURNS into a BRIGHT BALL of white lightning. Marina ejects. The fuselage sparks and then the entire plane finally EXPLODES.

Her jet-pack fails to fire. She presses an emergency button below the seat. Still nothing. The catapulted seat finally slows before it begins its decent to earth.

INT. LIZ'S SS2

POV of the explosion.

JACK
Buckle up!

TYLER
(securing belt)
Go!

Jack overturns the plane. Tyler ejects. Like a rocketeer -- jet-pack FIRING, he accelerates in a diagonally downward motion.

EXT. SKY

Marina releases herself from her jet-pack which falls by her wayside. She fast approaches the canyon floor, rapidly losing height.

800 feet, 500 feet, 200 feet, 100 feet...

Tyler SWOOPS in like a caped super-hero and SCOOPS Marina into his arms. The downward inertia makes him skim the surface of the Colorado river below.

Out of danger, Marina holds Tyler tightly around the shoulders –- affectionate. Tyler ascends the canyon.

INT. LIZ'S SS2

Jack hits the supercruise.

JACK
Let's see what this baby's got.

EXT. SKY

Fincher STREAKS across the sky with Jack close behind. Throttle pushed forward, Fincher shows all his tricks –- banking hard right and left, aileron rolls. Jack stays with him.

Fincher turns the attack around, making impossible acute angle turns. Caught in a HAILSTORM of CANNON FIRE, Jack goes vertical.

The plane yaws from side-to-side -- dodging the tracer fire. Jack puts on an advanced clinic in aerial acrobatics –- banking , diving, swerving.

Arcing upwards and dropping the plane hard down and away, Jack turns the dogfight around again to his favour.

Fincher drops a series of FLOAT BOMBS through the air. Jack weaves through the aerial minefield deploying counter-measures. 

POP-POP-POP! A CHAIN REACTION of exploding bombs, showering the sky. Jack races through the FIREWALL. 

INT. LIZ'S SS2

Afterburner disengaged: Jack frantically scans the sky.

JACK
Can you see him?

LIZ
Negative, I lost him --

From three o'clock high -– the enemy SS2's nose-cone POUNCES down, breaking off Jack's tail-fin. The shock sends a ferocious SHUDDER through the aircraft.

INT. LIZ'S SS2

LIZ
The systems are crashing!

JACK
Get the retro-stabilisers and rockets back online!

LIZ
I'm trying.

EXT. SKY

Fincher SAILS UPWARDS and turns to SWOOP in again. At impact point -–Jack banks a HARD RIGHT, SHATTERING into Fincher's wing with the sideways thrust. Fincher's SS2 is knocked into a wingless spin.

Wing down, Fincher ejects.

INT. LIZ'S SS2

The plane pitches wildly out of control.

JACK
Enjoy the flight, General!

Jack grabs Liz, SLAMS the stick forward and presses the emergency release. They SHOOT skywards in the ejector seat.

EXT. SKY

The SS2 suddenly BUCKAROOS and KICKS FORWARD. The enormous twin jet exhausts glow red as the plane yaws on an unstable plane. 

FINCHER
Ahhhhhhhhhhh!

At breakneck speed, the nose cone IMPALES Fincher's jet-pack -– CRUSHING every bone in his body and pinning him with the G-force. Eyes streaming -– his facial muscles are stretched to tearing point by the incredible turbulence. Suddenly Fincher's runaway SS2 comes into sight. Collision is imminent.

K-K-K-KABOOM! An occult blast as the planes EXPLODE. The nuclear firepower sends the BLAST NOVA -– mushrooming into an EXPANDING BALL OF LIGHT. The planes fragment into a thousand tiny pieces. 

EXT. CANYON RIDGE

Jack lands the jet-pack. In the b.g. the debris from the nuclear fall-out lights up the sky like shooting stars. A sight both terrifying and beautiful. 

Tyler and Marina are locked in an embrace, kissing.

JACK
You missed all the action.

MARINA
(keeping her eyes on Tyler)
No we did no.

LIZ
What do you say Lieutenant, mission accomplished?

JACK
Mission most definitely accomplished.

MARINA
So wha' happen to all the back-up?

The fleet of military choppers can be seen approaching in the b.g.

INT. MILITARY CHOPPER

PILOT
They're down there sir.

FELIX
I have a strange feeling we may be slightly late. Have the site secured.

EXT. CANYON RIDGE

MARINA
Wha' they going to do now?

JACK
They're coming to do what every good marine was trained for.

TYLER
They're coming to clean up the mess.

Jack and Tyler exchange a knowing smile to one another. Tyler turns and gives Marina another kiss on the lips. Jack pops a match-stick in his mouth. Liz looks at him. He snaps it in half and gives her the other. She rests her head in his chest.

We WIDEN to reveal the canyon landscape. Black smoke as fires blaze on the track. The last remnants of the aerial explosion. The military muscle flying towards us. And lastly, our heroes basking in the sun. 

									CUT TO:

EXT. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE – VENTURA - DAY

We PAN ACROSS the grounds to the east wing.

INT. CORRIDOR

The vice president lags behind Leonard Wells as they march down a corridor. Wells using the signature golf club (an upside down putter) as a walking stick. Security men flank them on either side.

LEONARD
And you say you had him checked out?

SANTINI
(looking nervous)
He defected from CIA middle-eastern ops five years ago. Since then counter intelligence have had him linked to at least twelve cases of espionage and cyber-terrorism.

LEONARD
And operation Phoenix?

SANTINI
He's hacked level one access to the military intelligence database and says he can delete all file systems linking operation Phoenix with the corporation.

LEONARD
What does he need?

SANTINI
Unrestricted access to our source files and he doesn't come cheap either. 

LEONARD
You think he can save us.

SANTINI
(nods)
He's in here.

LEONARD
Then let's meet him.

Santini opens a door.

INT. OFFICE

An office decorated by oily teak furniture of a bygone era. With his back to us, a man in shades and a traditional middle-eastern robe looks out at the views over Ventura Harbour.

SANTINI
Morgan Ishmail. May I introduce you to Admiral Leonard Wells -- the president of Magna corporation.

The tanned and moustached gentleman finally turns round –- chewing on a match-stick.

JACK
It's an honour to finally meet you -– admiral...

                          THE END