14
"Jack? Are you OK?"
"Yeah, they are gentlemen at least Saxon seems to be" Jack replied "I am going to be OK. How about you?"
"Well … they rang my bell a bit but… my sister hits harder to be honest. Ah … Jack? What the hell got you into this mess? Mine is a tall dark bitch. You? What is your beef with the Bureau, anyway C'mon. Tell me."
"Let's say our countries had a little dispute. They both knowingly shafted me."
"How?"
"Familiar with the name Hoover, Ianto? I don't mean a vacuum cleaner ..." Ianto listens intently.
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LONG BEACH AIR FORCE BASE HANGAR
Technicians are frantically installing Willy Peter Incendiary Bombs under the wings of an F-16.
General Peterson and Captain Giler brief four F-16 top gun pilots "The target. Alcatraz Island. This is not a precision strike. The entire island is to be blanketed."
"Sir, we hit that Island with Willy Peter and it's going to look like Iwo Jima. No one can survive it." A pilot said with horror.
Peterson nods grimly "That's why this is a volunteer mission, Captain. If any of you have doubts you can carry it out, speak up."
The pilots look at each other. Silence.
"Captain Giler?" Peterson asks.
"We jerry-rigged a release lever. You'll find it on the left side of the cockpit. It's got two positions: safety and release. Throw it on release, the bomb drops in five seconds. Change your mind, throw it back on safety. Any questions?"
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ALCATRAZ - IANTO'S CELL
Ianto stares blankly into space "Jesus. (thinks) Why didn't you just tell Hoover and the bureau where the microfilm was? Make a trade?"
"Some trade." Jack sighs " They'd get the microfilm and I'd get a bullet in the head."
"I see your point. Something's been on my mind. About your escape."
"What?" Jack rises. Lifts the bed. Pulls off the bed's heavy rolling caster. Knots the caster onto one end of the braided rope.
Ianto ponders "You went down the shower drain, through the tunnels to the power plant, under the steam engine and out through the intake pipe - that much I've got ' But... how'd you get out of your cell?"
Jack leans out his cell and tosses the rolling caster down the cell block. The braided rope, tied to it, plays out to it's full length.
Iantocontinues to talk unaware that his partner is already acting "I only ask because, in our current situation, it might be useful information ..."
The result: the braided rope lies across the cell block floor, the rolling caster tied to it. Jack holds the other end of the rope through the bars of his cell. "Trade secret, I'll tell you this: it was easier than getting in."
Jack fiercely yanks the rope toward him. The heavy rolling caster jerks from the floor. The caster, pulling the rope, flies past Jack's cell - shooting in an arc around the corner of the cell block, still pulling the rope, where - the caster-pulled rope catches the Cell Release Lever against the wall. The rope coils, WRAP WRAP WHAP, around the release lever handle. Jack tugs the rope taut like he's just snagged a fish. Then he pulls slowly and delicately. The cell door release lever pulls down and –Jack's cell door (and all the doors on that tier) open at once.
And Jack smiles.
Ianto hears the doors opening above him. "Hey! Hey what's happening? (no response) Jack. Jack?"
Suddenly Ianto's cell door opens. Ianto exits the cell. Jack stands there. "You're on your own, kid. Your gear's over there."
Jack motions to a heap of their gear (clothes, weapons, flares) in the corner of the cell tier. Ianto grabs his guns and gear and follows after Jack.
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ALCATRAZ - INFIRMARY COMMAND CENTER
Saxon sits behind the desk. Baxter, Frye, Darrow, Hendrix in front of him. Silence. Saxon stares at his phone. The tension is palpable. Saxon barks "Time."
Baxter consults his watch "Fifteen minutes Sax"
"We have two operational rockets left, General. One on the lower lighthouse, one on the rooftop, ready for fire. Frye remarks but gets no response "General."
"I heard you Captain."
Darrow asks "Prepare for launch General? General?"
"Not yet."
"General Saxon, noon is approaching." Frye frowns as he glances at the others.
"I'm aware of the time, Captain." Saxon glares at Frye, then at the phone. Frye and Darrow .exchange a look ... "
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WHITE HOUSE - OVAL OFFICE
The clock on the wall reads 13 minutes to go. General Kramer, Security Advisor Louis Lindstrom, and C.I.A. Director Milton Amway. Lindstrom asks "When was the last communication from our men on Alcatraz?"
Krammer replies "Seven hours ago."
The Naval Attaché enters excitedly. "General, the white phosphorous attack is operational."
General Kramer grabs the phone. "Get me the President."
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ALCATRAZ - PARADE GROUND
Jack emerges from the parade ground ruins and moves down the embankment toward the water. Ianto stays above. Ianto calls out "Jack."
Jack stops.
Ianto adds "What happened - the injustice done to you - doesn't mean you can walk away from this. A million people across that Bay will die."
"Only one of them I care about."
"You were once a different man." Ianto scolds "I see a better man in you."
"You don't know what kind of man I was."
"You were a civil servant. Sworn to do your duty. Just like me" Ianto replies.
Jack begins climbing down to the waterline.
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ALCATRAZ - INFIRMARY COMMAND CENTER
Saxon, with Baxter, Hendrix, Frye, Darrow and Crisp. The atmosphere is now so fucking thick you can cut it. Darrow barks "leven fifty-seven, General. Three minutes to go."
Saxon says confidently "They're going to call."
"They are not going to call General." Frye argues openly now.
"I... I don't understand this." Saxon is clearly confused now.
"I understand it." Darrow snorts "They're calling our bluff. We have two operational rockets left. We have to stick one of those rockets in their ear, General."
Saxon blinks "Atom?"
Baxter shrugs "I...I don't know Sax."
"Seventy thousand people... I didn't... i didn't ever..." Saxon is faltering.
Fray demands "You didn't ever what? (no response) You didn't ever what, General? (gets in Saxon's face) General, forty-eight hours ago I was in a cushy job at Pendleton. As of this moment I am subject to prosecution for treason and murder. Do you know what that means. It means the electric chair. For all of us."
Baxter nods "He's right Sax. Authorize the launch or it's over."
All eyes on Saxon now.
Darrow leans forward "Authorize the launch, General."
Saxon nods.
