INT. SALEM HELIPORT - CONTINUOUS
The small, dingy office is overrun by AGENTS with weapons. Shane sits at the manager's desk, still in the midst of chaos, staring into nothing and drumming his fingers on the desk.
A COMMUNICATIONS AGENT sits at a small RADIO SET. He pulls off his HEADPHONES and turns to Shane.
COMM GUY
Sir? It's been 15 minutes since
our last contact with Belle Black.
(beat)
Sir?
(beat)
Sir, we're gonna lose Kiriakis if --
Shane looks moodily out the window toward a BLACK HELICOPTER waiting on the pad.
SHANE
Five more minutes.
PUSH IN on the chopper to reveal the black-and-balaclava-clad EXTRACTION TEAM getting settled inside.
INT. DOCUMENT STORAGE - CONTINUOUS
Belle groans and rolls over, clutching her right arm with her left.
Phillip looms over her.
CHLOË
Phillip, don't. Belle never did
anything to you!
PHILLIP
Besides this, you mean?
He hauls Belle to her feet. She gasps in pain.
Brady, unnoticed by the others, rolls from his back onto his side. He puts a hand down to brace himself.
Phillip puts the gun to Belle's head.
PHILLIP (CONT'D)
You're right, though. Belle's
my oldest friend. We were in
playpens and wading pools
together. It would...hurt me
if anything were to happen
to her.
(long beat)
But it would hurt you and
Brady more.
Phillip is smiling regretfully down at Belle, almost cradling her broken body.
Behind him, Chloë notices Brady. He has made it to his hands and knees. She looks quickly away.
CHLOË
Are you sure of that? Think
about it, Phillip. Who else do
you have left? Do what you
want to me. You're probably
right. I deserve whatever I get
from you. But Belle --
PHILLIP
SHUT UP!
He swings the gun around to point it at Chloë.
PHILLIP (CONT'D)
I know what you're trying to
do! You want to confuse me!
You're trying to get me off my
guard! Well, it won't --
Suddenly, Phillips CRIES OUT in pain. He looks down.
Belle has jabbed him in the stomach with a POCKET KNIFE.
Seizing the moment, Chloë ATTACKS. She grabs his wrist and TWISTS, and Phillip SCREAMS again and drops his gun. She PUNCHES him in the face. He staggers back and releases Belle. Belle slumps to the ground.
Chloë and Phillip continue hand-to-hand while Belle CRAWLS across the floor toward her gun and Brady HOISTS himself to his feet by clutching the wall.
Phillip notices Belle and LUNGES for her. Chloë notices him noticing and LUNGES for Phillip's gun.
She whirls and points it at him just as he picks Belle up.
CHLOË
LET HER GO!
Phillip chuckles. He pulls Belle's body in front of him like a shield.
PHILLIP
Or what? You're gonna shoot me?
CHLOË
No.
She AIMS HIGH and SHOOTS.
The ring holding Brady's chain to the wall SHATTERS.
With a roar, Brady DIVES, chains and all, at Phillip. Belle tumbles free again as Brady lands on Phillip and knocks him to the ground. He pins his uncle down and starts punching. He's breathing hard, every movement hurting him as much as Phillip.
BRADY
(to Chloë)
Get...her...out....
Chloë's already on it, picking Belle up and dragging her toward the door.
INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Chloë pulls Belle toward the staircase. As they make it to the door, a guard comes around the corner. Before he can take aim at them, Chloë SHOOTS. The guard goes down, clutching his knee. Chloë and Belle disappear into the stairwell.
INT. DOCUMENT STORAGE - CONTINUOUS
Phillip THROWS the maddened Brady off of him and leaps in for his own attack.
EXT. ROOF - TITAN BUILDING - CONTINUOUS
Chloë tows Belle out the door onto the roof. She props Belle up by the ledge and starts searching Belle's pockets. Finally, she finds the WALKIE-TALKIE.
CHLOË
(to walkie-talkie)
This is Agent Lane requesting
immediate extraction. I have two,
repeat two agents down and in
need of medical assistance. I have
two agents missing.
BELLE
(weakly)
...dead....
Chloë looks at her in shock.
SHANE (O.S.)
(on walkie-talkie)
Chloë? Chloë are you there?
What's going on?
CHLOË
(to walkie-talkie)
I've got Belle on the roof. She
needs help. I'm going back for
Brady.
She drops the walkie-talkie into Belle's lap, kisses Belle on the forehead, and runs for the door.
SHANE (O.S.)
(on walkie-talkie)
Chloë? Chloë? Wait!
INT. DOCUMENT STORAGE - CONTINUOUS
Brady and Phillip stand, fists raised, exhausted and swaying, like punch-drunk boxers. Phillip throws a right hook. Brady dodges. He throws a left hook. Brady dodges the other way, and Phillip sucker-punches him in the gunshot wound. Brady staggers back and hits the wall. Phillip walks toward him slowly, clutching his own bleeding wound.
Phillip tries to throw Brady to the ground, but Brady stands firm, and they grapple and rabbit punch their way along the wall. Phillip grabs the middle of Brady's chains and brings them up across Brady's neck. He pulls the chain taut, pinning Brady to the wall with it, choking him. Brady struggles, clutching at the chain, kicking at Phillip, eyes rolling, fighting to stay conscious.
PHILLIP
(panting)
So much for ceremony. I only
wish that Chloë could be here
to see this.
Suddenly, Phillip gasps and jerks. He sways, revealing Chloë behind him, her face a mask of fury.
Chloë JERKS her arm, and Phillip gasps again. Slowly, he releases the chain and falls gracelessly to the floor.
Phillip lands on his face, revealing Chloë's KNIFE, well twisted, in his back.
Chloë looks at Brady. Brady looks at her.
He slides slowly down the wall and out of consciousness.
OVERLAP TO:
INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
CU Brady's face, in profile, a mass of cuts and bruises. The morning sunlight slants into his eyes, and he stirs, blinking into the light, not quite remembering where he is.
He lifts his right hand, brings it close to his face, wiggles his fingers. He tries to raise his left arm, fails, looks curiously down at his shoulder.
From above, we see Chloë crammed between Brady's bandaged body and the bed rail. She's still in her clothes and above the covers. She's asleep, but not peacefully. Her brow is wrinkled in concern. One of her arms lies across Brady's chest, holding him close and protectively.
Brady smiles down at her.
He puts his arm over hers, kisses the top of her head, and nestles his cheek against her hair as he falls back to sleep.
OVERLAP TO:
EXT. PARIS SKYLINE - NIGHT
The City of Lights in all its nighttime splendor, with the Eiffel Tower prominent in the foreground.
EXT. BELOW THE EIFFEL TOWER - NIGHT
Brady and Chloë hold hands and walk lazily along the broad promenade. They whisper to each other, smiling and giggling, Eskimo kissing, just another romantic couple out for a stroll.
They stop beneath the tower and look up at its peak.
CHLOË
Wow. I can't believe it. We're
finally here, together.
BRADY
Long time coming.
They kiss.
BRADY (CONT'D)
Ready to go up?
CHLOË
You bet I am.
They kiss again, then walk toward the tower.
CHLOË (CONT'D)
Just try not to get pushed off.
BRADY
Oh, ha ha!
INT./EXT. OBSERVATION PLATFORM - TOP OF THE TOWER - NIGHT
A SHADY-LOOKING GUY in a dark suit, carrying a briefcase, stands by the rail looking out at the city. He takes the cigarette from his mouth and drops it, then crushes the butt with his toe.
Shady is joined by a SHADIER-LOOKING GUY, also suited, but without a case. He leans against the rail next to Shady. Their eyes do not meet.
SHADY
You have the vial?
SHADIER
I do.
SHADY
I'll need to see it first.
The men turn to face each other. Shadier pulls a SMALL VIAL out of his inside pocket. He holds it up.
Shady smiles, then frowns.
There's a knife at his throat.
Chloë peeks over his shoulder.
CHLOË
Hi!
Shadier looks surprised. Someone taps him on the shoulder.
Brady PUNCHES Shadier in the face and NABS the vial from his hands as he crumbles, unconscious, to the ground.
Chloë rolls her eyes.
CHLOË (CONT'D)
Was that entirely necessary?
BRADY
No, but it was funny.
Brady kneels to cuff Shadier, while Chloë sighs impatiently. He turns and starts cuffing Shady.
BRADY (CONT'D)
You gotta stop taking your
work so seriously.
CHLOË
Hello! It's my time off I'm
taking seriously. This is
Paris. You know, walks along
the Seine, romantic dinners,
Le Jazz Hot?
BRADY
Oh you'll get Le Jazz Hot.
I can guarantee that.
They smile at each other meaningfully. Shady looks from one to the other, not sure he's hearing what he's hearing, quite sure he doesn't want to hear it.
CHLOË
Yeah, well, the smoother
this goes, the sooner we can
have some fun. I want this
to be quick and easy.
BRADY
I thought you liked it slow
and hard.
Chloë rolls her eyes again. Shady grimaces in disgust. Chloë starts to haul her prisoner away.
CHLOË
I am not helping you carry
him.
Brady holds out pleading hands as she disappears from view.
BRADY
Aw, come on, Padwan! Give
your older and wiser half a
hand here!
(no response; mutters)
Lazy wench.
CHLOË (O.S.)
I heard that!
Brady sighs and lifts his prisoner, still grumbling. As he drags his man toward the elevator, MUSIC OVER (Kyle's cover of "Everlong") fades in. We PULL BACK SLOWLY to another breathtaking view of the PARIS SKYLINE before we--
FADE OUT
THE END