Things are beginning to crack along now that we're in the later half of the story. The action scene here was initially meant to be a lot bigger, but I deliberately toned it back so that it didn't overpower the battle in the following chapter. It's a challenge making sure that each set-piece amps it up from the previous while also pushing the narrative along. Just quietly, one of my favorite gags appears in this chapter as well. Anyway, really hope you enjoy.
89. EXT. KROM'S CANYON, CANYON INTERSECTION – DAY
Roland stands in the middle of a deep canyon. The path he has entered from has split and veers off in two separate directions.
Looking to his right, he sees a large Spiderant pull itself out from the dirt just over a hundred metres further down the thin chasm.
Roland watches the large creature idly for a moment.
As he watches, four young Spiderant's emerge next to the large male creature.
Roland turns his head to the left and looks down the other branch of the canyon. The canyon winds around a corner a few hundred meters down.
Stealing a quick glance back at the Spiderants, Roland allows a small smile to cross his face as he focuses on the left hand branch.
90. EXT. KROM'S CANYON – BANDIT CAMP ENTRANCE – DAY
Two bandits are sat on old wooden chairs, which look like they could collapse at any moment. One of the bandits is dressed up in full armour (Franz) while the other wears only a pair of slacks identifying him as a psycho (Hanz).
Between the bandits is a small wooden table with a chessboard. Franz moves one of his pieces to check Hanz.
FRANZ
Check.
Hanz grabs his rook, which is sat a few spaces above the Bandits king and moves it downwards as though it's a castle, taking the King.
HANZ
Ah ha. Too bad, I win.
Franz slaps a hand over his face and shakes his head in annoyance.
FRANZ
No you haven't. That piece can only move diagonally.
HANZ
That piece will do whatever the hell I tell it to do.
As Hanz is rebutting, Franz's attention is stolen by something further down the canyon.
Having finished his sentence, Hanz looks up at Franz, before following his friend's gaze down the Canyon to reveal Roland walking calmly towards the pair.
HANZ
Well, well. We have a visitor.
The pair stands up and stride towards Roland, quickly closing the gap. Hanz pulls out a revolver while Franz holds a rifle. Roland pulls up his hands to show he's unarmed.
HANZ
Where's your weapon, stranger?
ROLAND
Dropped it. I didn't really have a chance to go back and look for it.
Franz and Hanz look at each other briefly before turning back to Roland.
HANZ
So you've waltzed up to our front door… … unarmed?
FRANZ
It'll make killing him easier.
Hanz turns his head towards Franz.
HANZ
Well that's a bit rich coming from you after last time.
All of a sudden, Roland's presence is completely ignored as the Bandit's dig into each other.
FRANZ
Hey! How was I supposed to know that his knife would also shoot bullets?
HANZ
Did the big hole in the front not tip you off?
FRANZ
You didn't know it would happen either.
HANZ
Did to. I was waiting to see if you'd do anything about it.
FRANZ
And you thought perhaps a warning would be wasted on me?
ROLAND
Ah, guys.
Simultaneously, they both turn to face Roland once more.
ROLAND
I'm looking for Flynt.
FRANZ
Well you're too late. He's gone.
HANZ
Yeah. The Baron took off a while ago.
Roland's face drops at this new setback.
ROLAND
Of course he has.
Rolling his eyes he dwells on the situation for a moment and searches for a new plan. The annoyance evident in his voice he nonchalantly quips…
ROLAND
I don't suppose you know what he had in his suitcase?
Thick as they are, the Bandits take this as an actual question.
FRANZ
Guns, I would imagine.
HANZ
And that nice suit he sometimes wears.
FRANZ
Perhaps a pair of handcuffs.
HANZ
Oooh. Kinky.
FRANZ
He's going to see someone he's been looking for, for a very long time.
There's a beat of silence. Hanz glances over at Franz.
HANZ
Should we be telling him this?
FRANZ
I don't think it's a secret.
HANZ
But we don't really know who he is yet.
As the pair continues to argue, Roland takes a step backwards.
ROLAND
OK. You know what; I'm just gonna…
Roland turns around to leave, not expecting the plank of wood that smacks him in the face, causing him to spin back to face the two Bandits'. Eye's rolling back into his skull, Roland wavers for a moment before dropping to the ground.
Giving Roland a quick glance the two bandits both redirect their attention to the massive, muscled Bruiser who was stood behind Roland, holding the thick plank of wood, which has just knocked him out.
After a moment Hanz turns back to his friend and holds out his fist, inviting him to a round of Rock, Paper, Scissors.
HANZ
Loser has to carry him.
FRANZ
Best of three?
They both pump their fists twice, but the scene cuts before the winner of the game is revealed.
91. EXT. KROMS CANYON, BANDIT CAMP – DAY
Some way further up the canyon lies the Bandit camp, filling the last few hundred meters of the canyon before the walls simply end and the floor drops away in a sheer cliff. Wooden platforms attached to stone ledges jut out of the sides of the canyon connected to each other by rope bridges. There are three tiers of wooden platforms along both of the canyon walls, with the fourth and highest tier being a large platform, which stretches across the full width of the canyon just before it ends.
Its on this highest platform that Roland has been placed. He moves around slightly, beginning to come to.
A hand reaches down and lightly slaps him on the cheek.
HANZ
Wakey, wakey. Hands off snaky.
Roland's eyes wearily open and he groans at the sight of Hanz and Franz standing over him. Swinging his arm over his body, he rolls onto his stomach preparing to push himself up. As he faces downwards he finds himself looking through a gap in the wooden planks. Suddenly realising how high up he is, Roland quickly jumps onto his hands and knee's letting out a yell.
Franz gives Hanz an amused smile.
FRANZ
I don't think he likes heights.
As he says the following, Roland shakily pulls himself onto his feet.
ROLAND
After recent experiences, I'm not a fan.
He stands up facing the duo. He takes a moment to rub the side of his head where he was smacked.
ROLAND
Who hit me?
He stares accusingly at the two Bandits. Suddenly a voice rings out from behind him.
KROM
So you're the Atlas soldier Flynt was so interested in.
Roland spins around towards the voice.
Krom sits on a steel chair behind a machine gun. A tin shelter borders him with a hole facing back into the canyon, which the machine gun can be fired through. The side facing Roland is completely open.
As Roland turns, Krom stands up and moves forwards, towards Roland. It's at this point that Roland realizes that half a dozen bandits as well as the named characters surround him.
ROLAND
Ex-Atlas. And I doubt there's anything about me that would interest your… … Baron.
KROM
There was enough for him to have you followed.
Roland begins to look uncomfortable, but keeps his cool.
ROLAND
And yet, when I show up to have a word to him, he's off kidnapping old friends.
KROM
How do you know this?
Behind Roland, Hanz and Franz give each other worrying looks.
HANZ
See. I knew we shouldn't have told him that. Didn't I say we shouldn't have told him?
He directs his voice to the other characters who have turned towards him.
HANZ
I did tell him.
He's referring to Franz. Roland turns back to Krom.
KROM
Seems you've been told more than I expected. What do you know about 'Thor'?
This time Roland looks stumped.
ROLAND
Big man with a hammer?
HANZ
No. That's Sledge.
FRANZ
Thor is Flynt's ride.
HANZ
Looks like quite a nice ride as well.
FRANZ
And expensive.
HANZ
Tell me about it. Have you seen the rims on that thing?
A warning stare from Krom quickly shuts the pair up.
Krom looks back at Roland and smiles menacingly.
KROM
Well. Regardless of how much you know, Flynt already has what he wants. Soon the vault will be in our hands and that knowledge will be useless.
ROLAND
Uh huh. What is it with you guys and this vault?
Krom ignores the question.
KROM
Hanz!
This being the first time Hanz has been addressed by name, Roland mishears and holds both his hands up. This only amuses Krom for a brief moment.
ROLAND
Alright. OK. Fine.
KROM
No. Hanz!
HANZ
Yes?
KROM
Take our new friend here and, remove him, from this world.
Hanz moves forwards to grab Roland and Krom turns his back walking back towards the seat he started on.
ROLAND
Oh good. I never liked this world anyway.
As Roland finishes his line, he twists his arm out of Hanz's grasp and in the same movement elbows Hanz in the chest, pushing him back while reaching down to his waist and grabbing the revolver out of his holster.
Spinning back to Krom, he holds up the revolver and pulls the trigger.
The gun simply clicks and refuses to fire.
As Krom turns back to face him, Roland tries twice more, before pulling the gun back and giving it a disbelieving look. Facing the barrel towards him he puts the gun to his eye and looks right down the barrel.
After a moment he lowers the gun and gives a nervous smile to the bandits all now pointing various guns at him.
ROLAND
Just… testing.
He gently turns back to Hanz and gently slips the gun back into its holster.
ROLAND
You might want to get that looked at.
Cocking his head slightly, Roland just manages to catch the noise of a trigger being compressed. Immediately reacting, he ducks and the bullet bursts through the air where his head was and embeds itself in Hanz's skull.
Roland straightens himself up and looks wide-eyed in the direction of the Bandit holding the smoking gun. Behind him, Hanz retains enough life to roll his eyes up, as though attempting to see the hole in his forehead before falling backwards, dead.
Franz looks at the lifeless body of his best friend and lets out a growl of anger, pointing murderous eyes at Roland.
Deciding to make the most of the new opening in the circle where Hanz previously stood, Roland bolts. The Bandits open fire only a beat later.
Ignoring the ladder at the end of the platform, Roland instead makes a diagonal beeline for the inner edge of the platform and leaps in the direction of the third tier platform poking out of the canyon wall.
Soaring hundreds of meters above the ground while bullets fly around him, he lands on a poorly stacked pile of supply cases on the wooden platform he was aiming for. The pile gives way beneath him and he loses his balance, hitting the ground on his side. Rolling onto his stomach he scrambles forwards on hands and knees for a few meters before using the momentum to pull himself to his feet.
Behind him, the Bandits divide. Two of them continue to fire from the fourth tier platform. Three head for the ladder leading down to the third tier while the final Bandit as well as Franz attempt the same leap Roland took. Franz makes the jump, however the bandit does not cover the distance and plunges to his death. (Wilhelm scream?)
Roland starts for the far edge of the third tier platform with the intentions to jump to the second tier, however as he moves in that direction, four new bandits emerge from a tent situated near that edge and put themselves between Roland and his destination.
As bullets from the bandits above rip up the dirt around his feet, Roland changes course and instead heads for the rope bridge, which connects his platform to a similar platform on the other side of the canyon.
As he darts onto the unstable bridge, Krom's machine gun finally opens fire. The massive bullets miss Roland by inches but cut through the two ropes, which acted as rails for the bridge.
Wobbling nervously now that the rope rail are gone, Roland dives forwards onto the rope connected, wooden slats that make up the bridge. Back up on the fourth tier, Krom continues to fire in Roland's direction, although most of his bullets hit and start to tear apart the bridge.
Coupled with the damage already done to the bridge by the Bandits firing from above as well as Krom's machine gun, the bridge is unable to take the added pressure of Rolands body hitting it. The remaining two ropes holding the bridge to the platform Franz is stood on, snap at the end and the bridge swings downwards, towards the other side of the canyon.
This stops Franz who reaches the area where the bridge used to start only moments after it has collapsed.
Wrapping his hands around the slat above him, Roland braces himself as the bridge smacks against the canyon wall. He follows close behind and the plank he's holding on to snaps, causing Roland to drop slightly until his hands manage to catch the one blow it. This one also snaps, as do the next four or five. Finally, with only two slats left before a deadly drop, the piece of wood Roland falls on to manages to hold.
Looking down Roland watches the other pieces smash into the ground. His legs flail wildly as he hangs onto his piece of wood and looks upwards. Because of the amount of slats that gave way there is no way he can reach the next piece of wood above him.
Back up on the fourth tier, Krom readjusts him aim so that Roland is dead centre in his sight. Across the canyon from Roland, Franz also lines up his rifle. He has a clear shot at Roland.
As Roland hangs on for dear life, he searches the area below him for a way out. About six meters down is the rope bridge, which connects the two tier two platforms, however it is also a few meters across, which means he can't simply drop onto it. He'll need to swing over and jump.
Above him, one of the ropes holding up Rolands bridge is heavily frayed and looks like it could snap at any second.
Bullets hit the canyon wall right next to Roland as Franz opens up fire. As Roland's head darts up in the direction the gunfire, seven bandits join Franz; the four who emerged from the tent earlier as well as the three from the fourth tier who took the ladder.
Attempting to push away from the wall and swing the bridge towards the tier two bridge, Roland suddenly drops a foot as the frayed rope gives way up the top.
No longer held equally by both ropes, the planks all slant downwards towards the side with the snapped rope. As a result of Roland's twisting, the bridge also swings outwards from the canyon wall, so that Roland is no longer facing the wall, but back towards Krom, the opposite direction to the tier two bridge he's trying to get to.
As this happens Krom fires his machine gun again, but Roland sudden drop saves his life as the bullets pocket the rock above his head.
The slat Roland was gripping onto finally gives and falls away. Rather than grabbing the final slat below it, Roland instead grabs for the lower hanging, snapped rope.
Held onto the bridge only by the slats of wood and not the pole at the top, Roland extra weight causes the rope to drop another few feet, pulling all the wooden slats vertical. The momentum spins him around and in desperation, as he faces the tier two bridge he swings his legs back towards the canyon wall and pushes against it attempting to swing the rope in the proper direction.
The rope swings outwards, but not forwards as another hail of bullets fly past Roland. The bullets break a number of slats and the rope drops further as its anchors are destroyed.
Coming back to hit the wall, Roland attempts to walk along the wall in the right direction as he pushes off again.
This works but Roland is unable to build up enough momentum. Another wooden board is blasted to pieces, which causes Roland to spin out of control as it pulls on his rope. With fewer slats holding his rope to the rope still attached at the top, one of the boards near the top gives on its own, unable to bear the weight.
Roland's earlier push reaches the end of its arc and he begins to swing back towards the wall and away from the bridge. His dizzying spinning slows down and he grips his rope tightly with both hands as he readies himself for his next attempt.
Digging his feet into the canyon wall he runs forwards along the wall before pushing himself away from it in the direction of the lower bridge. Krom opens fire with his machine gun and sends two bullets straight through the rope that was still attached to the top of the bridge.
Roland lets out a terrified yell as the bridge drops away and lets go, holding out both arms ready to catch the second tier bridge he's free falling towards.
Catching one of the rail ropes, Roland's fall is brought to an abrupt end, so much so that he almost loses his grip. Below him, the bridge he was previously hanging on to smashes into smithereens on the ground a hundred meters below.
Swinging his legs up, Roland walks his legs onto the bridge before swinging the rest of his body under the rail rope and pulling himself up.
Krom's machine gun bullets bite through the air near him and Roland covers the few meters between where he's stood on the bridge and solid ground. He quickly dives into an alcove, which protects him from Krom's machine gun.
ROLAND
Thank God for lower gravity.
He pants to himself. Taking a moment to catch his breath he looks across the canyon to the other tier two platform on the opposite side.
He realises his break is over as Franz and the bandits drop down from their third tier platform onto the second tier Roland was looking at and put themselves in a position where they can fire on him.
Leaping straight back into action, Roland bolts forwards and leaps over the edge of the second tier, landing hard on the first tier and rolling out of the fall. Immediately in front of him is the massive bruiser that knocked him out earlier.
No sooner has Roland regained his balance, he's scooped up by the Bruiser and pinned against the wall of the canyon. Attempting to refill his lungs after having his breath knocked out of him, Roland is suddenly lifted up by the Bruiser and flung out towards the edge of the platform. He hits the ground and rolls, stopping himself less than a foot from the sheer drop.
Shakily he pulls himself up as the Bruiser strides up to him and swings a massive fist his way.
Roland ducks under the fist and brings a leg up, kicking the Bruiser as hard as he can towards the chasm. The Bruiser finds himself teetering on the edge of the cliff, inviting Roland to throw his energy into a shoulder push, which sends the large man down to his death.
Quickly looking around, Roland spots the narrow exit to the Bandits camp and races for it.
92. EXT. KROM'S CANYON, CANYON INTERSECTION – DAY
A few moments later, near the entrance to the canyon, Roland finally comes to a stop near the intersection he was at earlier.
Bending down and resting his hands on his knee's he pants heavily, trying to take as much air into his lungs as he can. With the adrenaline beginning to exit his body, he finds that he is completely worn.
After a few moments his breath slowly begins to slow down and he straightens up, looking down the canyon, back the way he came.
Suddenly his breathing stops as he hears a faint hum. A beat passes and the hum becomes louder. Roland takes a step back as the noise starts to become recognisable as the roar of multiple engines.
From the direction of the bandit camp, three outriders emerge from around the corner. Two of them house machine gun turrets, however the third has Franz sat behind a rocket launcher turret.
ROLAND
Oh for heavens sake.
Despite being a couple hundred meters away, as soon as Franz spots Roland's form, he lets loose a rocket.
Roland see's the rocket spiral towards him and dives to one side as the ground near him explodes in a bright orange fireball.
Pulling himself up, he instantly makes for the canyon exit. He only manages to run about ten minutes when the ground in front of him suddenly falls away and a giant spiderant pulls itself to the surface, attracted by the explosion.
Roland readjusts his course and runs right, around the creature and more pop up around him.
Closing their distance fast, the machine gun outriders refocus their attention on the numerous spiderants. The large male creature, holds two massive claws in front of itself and the bullets bounce off harmlessly.
The first outrider speeds towards the large spiderant which then uses one of its claws to swipe at the vehicle, sending it flipping through the air, its occupants hitting the ground hard.
The smaller spiderants immediately dive onto the bandits and sink their claws into the soft bodies, tearing them apart.
Throughout this entire ordeal Roland heads towards the canyon exit as fast as he can, although he doesn't completely escape notice. Two smaller spiderants, curl their bodies in on themselves and begin to roll towards Roland at fast pace. Seeing them coming Roland dodges to one side and one of the monsters hits the side of the canyon, stopping the movement but not hurting it at all.
The two remaining outriders make a wide berth of the large Spiderant, but both fire continuously on it. The spiderant manages to block most of the damage with its large claws.
93. INT. EARL'S HUT, MAIN ROOM – DAY
Crazy Earl kneels down next to a worn out, patchy couch and pets a small Skag.
CRAZY EARL
All right there, boy. Good boy.
The sound of gunfire attracts his attention. As he listens the sounds get louder.
Pushing himself up against the front door he reaches up and opens the small slot, looking outside.
At first he doesn't see anything. Suddenly Roland enters his field of view, letting out panicked yells and tearing past as fast as he can, occasionally sneaking a glance behind him.
As Roland disappears further down the valley Earl looks back waiting for Rolands pursuers to appear.
A moment passes. The gunfire gets louder but nothing enters the area.
Finally after a few beats, the bandits and spiderants come into view at about the same time. Most of the smaller creatures are gone but the large monster is still a threat as the bandits weave around it in their outriders.
Having seen enough, earl quickly slides the slot closed and turns around, putting his back against the door and looking down at his pet skag, wide eyed.
94. EXT. SCRAP YARD, CRAZY EARL'S HUT – DAY
Franz fires a rocket and takes out two of the smaller spiderants. The large creature turns towards him but the other outrider cuts between them and starts firing.
Franz leans down to his driver and yells.
FRANZ
Get behind it!
The bandit driver nods and begins to circle the large creature.
Lining up his shot, Franz waits a moment and finally fires a rocket straight into the Spiderant's abdomen.
The soft flesh is blown open, coating the area in yellow innards.
Franz lets out a victorious cheer as the other outrider starts to pick off the remaining smaller Spiderants.
As his driver pulls the outrider to a stop, Franz looks down the valley in the direction Roland was headed.
95. EXT. WEST COMMONS, DIRT PLAINS – DAY
Some time later, Roland finally reaches the area where he and Tannis arrived via her teleportation device. The pole is still stood on a small rise.
Roland heads over to the pole and looks back across the plains. The two outriders can be seen rapidly approaching. The machine gunner fires a number of rounds, but at that range, none of them get too close to Roland.
Roland looks at the screen on the pole. The look on his face betrays the fact that he is not happy with his decision to use this device again. A patch of dirt is kicked up not too far from him as a bullet hits it.
Springing into action, he hits the screen to activate it. A keypad appears.
ROLAND
Oh, shit. What was the code to get back to Tannis's.
He desperately thinks for a moment as the clouds of dust from the machine guns bullets, slowly get closer and closer to him.
ROLAND
Um.. Er… Ah ha: four… … ah… four… three…
He punches those numbers in. In desperation, he starts hitting the keypad desperately, hoping to chance upon the combination. As soon at eight numbers go in, the keypad flashes red and they all disappear.
Roland tries again, but the device still wont let him use it.
Franz is now close enough to take a shot with the rocket launcher turret. His shot isn't far off and the rockets flies past Roland, missing him by only a few feet and causing him to jump back.
Roland doesn't even bother looking at the keypad beyond hitting the four and three, and continues to punch in completely random numbers.
Again, the screen flashes red, two, three times.
All of a sudden, on the fourth attempt the screen flashes green and the large button appears.
A relived smile splitting his face, Roland reaches behind the screen and pulls out one of the handles.
Roland hits the button and at exactly the same moment, Franz fires another rocket. This time his aim is dead on and a massive fireball engulfs the pole and Roland.
96. INT. A BOAT, CABIN – NIGHT
The cabin is relatively empty. A large desk sits in the middle with a map pinned to the wall behind it. In one of the corners is another of the devices attached to a pole.
The device suddenly springs to life and a blinding flash of light fills the area.
As it dies down, Roland is revealed, hugging the pole, his eyes squeezed shut.
A beat passes.
ROLAND
Am I alive?
He slowly opens his eyes. Any joy he may have felt at still being alive is negated by the disappointment that he's not back at Tannis's hut.
He takes a moment, observing his immediate surroundings.
ROLAND
I'm… …
He takes a step forwards and stumbles into the desk as the room rocks slightly. The sound of waves can be heard outside.
ROLAND
…on a boat?.. Didn't think I'd end up here.
Taking his weight off of the desk he moves to the only door and pushes it open.
97. EXT. A BOAT, DECK – NIGHT
As he exits the cabin, Roland is surprised to find that it's night-time. The boat he's on is not particularly large, with low rails surrounding the deck.
In the distance light can be seen coming from behind a large mountain range throwing pink and orange hues over the land, it almost looks like dawn is coming.
Roland moves over to the side of the boat and idly leans against one of the railings. He suddenly jumps back as he hits a small button that was attached to the railing.
In an instant the entire boat lights up. Christmas lights, which have been strung all over the boat spring to life and two large speakers on the deck start playing carnival type music.
Roland pushes the button again, hoping to turn everything off. It doesn't work. He leans down and hits it again and a third time.
His head shoots up as he hears a splash quite close to the boat.
As he watches the water a figure jumps out and splashes back in again almost instantly. It's not entirely clear what it is.
It jumps out again closer and this time Roland gets a good look. The figure is a plastic figurine of a dolphin, with a plastic Tannis riding it in a bikini and waving a cowboy hat. It disappears back into the water.
Eyes wide with disbelief at what he's seeing, Roland shakes his head before rubbing his eyes, just to make sure he's not seeing things.
98. INT. A BOAT, CABIN – NIGHT
The music can still be heard outside as Roland bursts back through the door muttering to himself.
ROLAND
That woman is completely mad. Insane. No, what's worse than that?.. I don't know, but she's… whatever that is.
He looks back through the door, completely gobsmacked at what he's just witnessed.
Throwing the door closed he turns back into the room and turns his attention to the device that brought him here.
He hits the holographic screen and the keypad appears.
ROLAND
Alright. How do we get back to Tannis?.. Lets see. It's four three… … Four three… Damn it, four three what?
In frustration he spins around and looks back into the room. The desk has nothing on it and doesn't appear to be any use.
He glances up at the large map.
Although the map has all the geography of Pandora marked out, nothing is labelled, making it next to useless.
Roland starts to turn away, however something on the map suddenly pulls him back to it.
Moving forwards he notices a tiny red mark on the map, placed over one of the large lakes. Rubbing his finger over it, Roland chuckles to himself.
ROLAND
You are here.
Taking his finger away he quickly follows the grid that the mark lies in to the top of the map and then the bottom, before turning away.
He stops.
Spinning back to the map he finds the mark again and follows the grid to the top of the map. Sitting just above the top of the highest square is the map coordinate: forty-three degrees.
ROLAND
Four three!
All the grids are divided, very faintly into a hundred smaller squares, ten each horizontally and diagonally.
Roland allows a victorious smile.
ROLAND
Ah. Here we go. Now, where are you Tannis?
He traces the forty-three degree grid up and down, looking for familiar geological shapes. After a few passes he finally stops on a spot that looks promising.
He counts the faint squares horizontally until he reaches the point he's looking at, talking it through under his breath.
ROLAND
Four three… one two three four five six, seven: Four three seven… … nine?
The last number he has to guess based on where it lands within the small square. Heading back to the device, he puts the first four numbers into the keypad.
He moves back to the map, finds his spot and then follows the grid horizontally. After a moment he once more returns to the device.
ROLAND
Eight two six three.
The keypad flashes green and reveals the button. Roland gives a little jump for joy.
ROLAND
Alright. All I need to do now is throttle Tannis until she tells me where the closest… … this thing… is to Sanctuary.
He reaches behind the screen and pulls out one of the handles. Holding his hand close to the button he quickly laments…
ROLAND
I lived such a short life.
He slaps his hand on the button and the cabin is replaced by whirlpool of swirling colours.
99. INT. TANNIS'S SHACK, MAIN ROOM – DAY
The bright flash of light fades and Roland appears, once more standing in Tannis's shack, facing the wall. He calls out.
ROLAND
Right! Now then… …
He turns around as he speaks and his voice trails off.
Tannis's shack may have been cluttered before, but now its been turned upside down and totally messed up. Absolutely nothing has been left standing upright. Many objects have been destroyed and there is no sign of life.
A low growl causes Roland to look up. The bloodwing is now sat in the rafters, having been broken from its cage.
Roland starts to move slowly through the destruction.
ROLAND
Tannis? Patricia?
His boot hits something and he looks down.
Buried underneath a pile of broken equipment, Claptrap can be seen poking out slightly. It's not moving.
Roland kneels down and pushes the rubble off of Claptrap.
ROLAND
Hey. Oi, robot!
He hits the side of the robot as though belting a faulty computer. Suddenly the small robot springs to life. Two slots open on either side and it pushes out its thin arms, which it uses to feel its body. The sight almost resembles someone who's just been shot in the stomach.
Claptrap swivel's its main camera up towards Roland and starts speaking, although the voice is extremely distorted and crackly.
CLAPTRAP
Hey you bint, take a hint, because this stint, which cost a mint, was caused by… … … Flynt.
ROLAND
Flynt? Flynt was here?
The Claptrap bounces up onto its wheel.
CLAPTRAP
Bandits! Quick! Bandits are attacking! They're taking her, they're taking her! Run! Hide!.. … There's no escape… … … They are coming.
With this, Claptrap powers down. It rocks unsteadily for a moment before falling backwards onto the pile.
Roland moves forwards and taps it again.
ROLAND
Where's Tannis.
Claptrap powers up long enough to deliver his next line before dying again.
CLAPTRAP
She's gone.
ROLAND
Gone? Where has she gone?
Claptrap powers up again, but only seems to do so at half power. His numerous lights seem much dimmer than usual.
CLAPTRAP
They took her. She's a prisoner. Oh poor master… … … Does this mean I'm free?
Having got the information he was after, Roland leaves Claptrap and strides out of the shack.
100. EXT. FYRESTONE, OPEN SHACK – DAY
Marcus and Brick are both sat around a small round table, located just outside of the open weapons store.
Brick looks out towards the main pavilion and jumps up as he sees Roland approaching them. Marcus remains seated, but leans forwards.
MARCUS
Ah. My friend. We were beginning to wonder whether or not you would make a reappearance. I almost contemplated offering your partner here some full time employment.
Marcus grabs for a small glass sat on the table next to him.
ROLAND
Thankfully, I am back.
He turns to Brick.
ROLAND
Hey man. How'd you go? I doubt you had half the amount of trouble I did.
Brick opens his mouth to answer but Marcus cuts in first.
MARCUS
Your friend here has proven to be quite useful. Not that I gave him anything too hard to do.
Roland gives Brick a friendly pat on the arm before moving forwards, stopping in front of Marcus.
ROLAND
Good. I need your help.
MARCUS
What can I do for you?
Roland steals the chair Brick was sat on, leaving the big man to nip into the store and fetch another, eventually placing it behind the table, between Roland and Marcus. Meanwhile, Roland turns to Marcus.
ROLAND
While I was away, a group of Bandits lead by Flynt took Tannis. Right now, she's my only ticket off of this rock, so I need your help to go after them and get her back.
Marcus takes a moment to dwell on what Roland is asking of him.
MARCUS
Going after Flynt?.. I am sorry my friend, but I cannot help you with this.
ROLAND
Why not?
MARCUS
If Flynt has Tannis, then she is a lost cause. This is not a case of chasing down any group of Bandits. Flynt has named himself the Baron of the Bandits on Pandora. His mobile base; a massive mining vehicle, is heavily armoured and protected by many gun turrets. Nobody can get close to that thing.
ROLAND
How many have tried?
MARCUS
Nobody. We all know it is suicide.
Roland twists in his chair, away from Marcus and looks out over Fyrestone. The town appears close to deserted but a handful of Pandoran's wander around the area. Just off to the side of one of the small shacks, on the other side of the wide street, Roland spots two young children, no older than ten, keenly observing an unseen insect on the ground.
ROLAND
How often do the Bandits attack this town?
MARCUS
It is not as rare an event as we would like. But as long as we do what they want, they do not kill too many of us. You will have a hard time trying to convince these people to provoke them.
At this point Brick leans forwards and brings himself into the conversation.
BRICK
I thought Tannis was meant to be hidden good. How did they find her?
Roland looks back in his direction.
ROLAND
They had me followed. Wouldn't surprise me if you were as well. I might be checking up on anyone outside town you happened to run into.
This immediately catches Marcus's attention. He swings his head towards Roland, his eyes showing hints of worry. Swinging towards Brick, he makes eye contact with the large man before softly expressing what he's worried about.
MARCUS
T K!
101. INT. TK BAHA'S HUT, MAIN ROOM – DAY
Brick stands in the door of TK's hut and looks into the room. Roland and Marcus join him only a moment later.
ROLAND
Oh shit.
The camera tracks back to reveal a completely destroyed interior. Much like Tannis's shack, nothing remains upright.
TK Baha himself, hangs from a metal ceiling fan, which is slowly rotating. His wooden leg looks like its been hacked off and his body has been mangled and contorted into a completely unnatural shape.
Brick slowly closes the door.
102. EXT. FYRESTONE OUTSKIRTS, TK BAHA'S HUT – DAY
As Brick pulls the door closed, Marcus takes a step back and looks up at Roland.
MARCUS
That man did not deserve to die like this. My friend, you have my support. I will speak to the others around Fyrestone and see if they will help you, also.
Roland nods, satisfied.
103. EXT. FYRESTONE, OPEN SHACK – DAY
Roland, Brick and Marcus stand around the small round table.
MARCUS
We have three Out-runners of our own as well as four vehicles' that we… err… recovered over the years. It seems I was wrong about the people here; there are plenty who are quite eager to try and get rid of Nine-toes… and Flynt of course.
ROLAND
I'm guessing Nine-toes was Flynt's voice in this area.
MARCUS
In a way.
ROLAND
And you've told me everything you know about Flynt's machine.
MARCUS
I have seen it only once, from a distance. All of my information comes from the stories I have heard, but yes, I've told everything I know.
Roland glances over at Brick, a plan forming in his head.
ROLAND
It sounds to me, like Flynt's biggest problem is his own overconfidence.
MARCUS
I'd argue he has pretty good grounds to be confident.
Roland gives a sly smile as Marcus's remark.
ROLAND
Something I've learnt over the years in that one of the biggest mistakes made when someone owns a massive ship, is that they are usually so sure that the exterior defences will handle any problems that they tend to skimp out on interior defence. I think, the best way to handle Flynt's behemoth is to zip past the exterior defences and get as many people on board as quickly as possible.
Marcus takes a moment to process Roland's idea.
MARCUS
Take the big guns out of the equation.
ROLAND
Sort of. We'll leave three vehicles' out to keep Flynt's men busy, and distracted, while the other four unload men into his base.
MARCUS
But are you not asking those three to sacrifice themselves?
Roland shakes his head.
ROLAND
If we do this properly, those guns should stop firing pretty quickly.
There is a moment of silence.
MARCUS
I do not like this, but your plan sounds like it could work. I will talk to the others and find out about the vehicles.
ROLAND
Great.
Marcus begins to walk away from the table as Roland turns to Brick.
ROLAND
Feel like taking the driver's seat this time?
BRICK
Hell yeah!
Brick turns and walks away from the table and Roland suddenly remembers something. He calls after Marcus.
ROLAND
Oh, and Marcus
MARCUS
Yes, my friend.
Marcus stops and turns around as Roland jogs over to join him.
ROLAND
I've been running around for far too long without a gun.
As Roland catches up, Marcus begins to walk again. Roland follows next to him.
MARCUS
You are in luck. I have a fine range of Atlas weaponry…
Roland suddenly puts a hand to Marcus's chest and stops him.
ROLAND
Wait! Whoa, whoa. You stock Atlas?
MARCUS
Well, they may be an evil corporation, but you cannot deny they make superior weaponry.
Roland doesn't have much of an argument against that.
ROLAND
I've always preferred Dahl myself.
MARCUS
Oh, and how do you justify this?
Roland pauses for a moment trying to come up with a suitable answer. A few beats pass before he finally settles on a response.
ROLAND
The ads were funnier.