275 INT. CENTRAL

Frank is on the phone, agitated. MacDonald paces in front of the desk.

FRANK: What? Chief Warden from Stonehaven...Screw him...(listens)...Okay her...I don't have time now...Pulasky, don't you dare open your mouth about the runaway to her...Now, what about the hostler helper on that train...

He listens and reacts in surprise.

FRANK: A woman!?...Look, does she know anything about operating a locomotive?

He listens and slams the phone down in exasperation.

FRANK: (to no-one in particular) Shit! The only person on the whole damned train is a woman - how lucky can I get?

Noin reacts at the sexist remark but lets it pass.

276 INT. CLARK STREET

Pulasky hangs up his terminal, closely observed by Une, Nichol and Alex who is going through Heero and Duo's discarded prison clothes. Pulasky's hand is heavily bandaged where he burnt it.

Une moves in.

PULASKY: (curt, lying through his teeth) No problem.

Une doesn't believe him.

UNE: (impatient) Now look here...I have two dangerous prisoners on the run...Both are murderers...I think you'd better level with me.

PULASKY: (doesn't like her at all) Listen lady...you wanna get levelled, go to Central...They got all the answers.

Pulasky storms off. Une doesn't like being talked to like that, especially in front of her subordinates.

277 INT. 4TH ENGINE CAB

The place is crammed with tension.

Heero and Duo are in the corner, their backs to Hilde, sneaking looks at her from time to time as if conspiring about something. They appear to be having an argument. Hilde watches the two.

Duo gives up and turns to Hilde, grabbing the first aid kit as he goes. Heero goes back to his seat and watches the pair with some unease.

Duo sits down next to Hilde and opens the first aid kit. She's not bothered by him - having worked out that Heero's the dangerous one.

DUO: (rummaging through the kit) What happened to you?

HILDE: (eyeing him, she rubs the cut on her head) Banged my head.

She winces and clutches at the tear in her jacket. Duo's concerned.

DUO: You okay?

She shakes her head and unzips the top half of her uniform. Underneath she's wearing just a T-shirt that shows off her well proportioned figure to perfection. Duo's eyes light up.

Heero grunts and smirks. Duo notices and looks embarrassed. He hands Hilde an antiseptic wipe which she presses against a nasty graze on her waist.

HILDE: Thanks.

Motivated by this success Duo tries again.

DUO: (pointing to the cut) How'd you get that?

HILDE: (suddenly fearful) When we slammed into that caboose...

She sounds terrified. Heero picks up on this and listens up.

HILDE: ...I thought the ride was over - but it just keeps going...

HEERO: Till what?

HILDE: Till the end...

HEERO: (probing) Tell me.

HILDE: (she hugs her knees) It's running wild...

Duo doesn't believe it.

DUO: (shaking his head) No...no, we heard the whistle.

HILDE: No I blew the whistle in the second engine! I wanted people to know there was someone on this runaway!

DUO: (doesn't want to acknowledge the danger) Why should we believe you?

HILDE: (yelling) Listen to me! I got knocked out when the train went bezerk! I came to just before the collision and climbed back here to the forth engine where its safer. Don't you get it!

Heero doesn't seem that surprised; he always felt something was wrong. Duo's terrified now, but still refusing to accept it.

HILDE: (very convincing) You don't believe me?

She scrambles to the window and slams it open. Trees, rocks and tundra fly by. The ratting tempo on the rails is like tumbling boulders.

HILDE: Just look out the window if you don't believe me. Can't you see it? Can't you hear it? This train is out of control.

She is on the edge.

HILDE: We're gonna be killed!

She trembles, waiting for Heero's reaction. Heero is suddenly disturbingly calm, like ice.

HEERO: Then we better do something about it!

278 INT. CENTRAL

Everyone's on edge now. MacDonald paces furiously. Trowa and Frank work the controls like men possessed.

MACDONALD: How far to the bridge? What's the ETA?

Trowa types and code swirls on his terminal. Screens rapidly blink on and off till a small panel pops up, numbers rapidly counting down. Time is rapidly running out.

TROWA: (curt, clipped) Forty-five minutes.

MACDONALD: Shit!

FRANK: (strangely confidant) There's time yet.

Trowa looks at him quizzically at him while MacDonald strides over to Frank's terminal and switches on a microphone. Pushed out of the way Frank continues his work on the next console.

MACDONALD: (into mike) Seneca station! Seneca station!

VOICE ON SPEAKER: Go ahead.

MACDONALD: This is MacDonald at Central control...There's a runaway coming your way, it's going over eighty.

VOICE ON SPEAKER: (shocked) That's too fast for the bridge!

MacDonald rolls his eyes.

MACDONALD: (yelling) I know it's going too fast for the bridge! Get your emergency crew together!

VOICE ON SPEAKER: Sonuva...can't you stop it!

MACDONALD: Oh we're gonna stop it...just have em' there...just...just in case hah!

He flicks the mike off.

MACDONALD: (directed at Frank with some venom) Bastard!

Frank shrugs it off. He leans back in his seat and smiles broadly.

FRANK: Now she's mine.

279 EXT. RUNWAY'S WHEELS

At eye level we pan along the train, examining the pounding, crushing wheels on the first and second units.

280 INT. 4TH ENGINE CAB

DETAIL: SHUTDOWN BUTTON

It's a duplicate of the button on the lead engine, mounted in the same position on the same bulkhead, labelled - EMERGENCY FUEL CUTOFF B - ENGINE STOP.

A finger is frozen directly over it.

CUT TO:

281 INT. 4TH ENGINE CAB

Heero is considering the button, not sure whether to press it. Duo paces while Hilde sits in the engineer's seat. she seems resigned to their fate.

HILDE: You don't understand! The train has gone wild! There's no control.

Heero presses the button, nothing. He tries again.

HILDE: I told you! I already tried it from the second engine.

Not ready to give up Heero strides to the control panel and yanks the Dynamic Brake lever over to fully applied. No response.

DUO: (to Hilde) Why don't they work!

HILDE: Shutdown, dynamics, they're all electric controls, and when a bunch of engines are slaved together like this, all the electrics work from the lead engine. Throttle, brakes, shutdown, all of them.

HEERO: Just the electrics?

HILDE: Yeah...

Heero tires the manual air brake, a valve mounted beside the panel..

282 EXT: WHEEL BRAKES

The toasted stumps of the brakes twitch but barely grip the thundering wheels.

283 INT. 4TH ENGINE CAB

A brief jolt runs through the engine, throwing Duo to the floor and Heero into his seat. He watches the speedometer.

284 EXT. WHEEL BRAKES

The stumps strain for a movement then snap and fly apart like dry twigs.

285 INT. 4TH ENGINE CAB

Mockingly the needle continues it's steady rise.

Heero doesn't bother to try again. He slumps back and tries to think, dragging his hand over his face. Hilde watches him. Slowly Heero looks up and meets her eyes. Something occurs to him and Duo at the same time. They turn to face her.

HEERO: (angry) How come you didn't go up to the lead engine.

He stands and points.

HEERO: Why'd you come back here?

HILDE: You can't cross from the second to the first engine. It's a Streamliner, an old F7A unit, it doesn't have a walkway.

DUO: (not fully understanding) Why not.

HILDE: Because it's an express engine. Big smooth nose, no catwalks, no grips. There's a door in front but the collision wedged it shut.

Heero turns in his seat. Duo springs up.

DUO: (angry, not willing to give up) So what do we do? Just sit here like rats in a trap waiting to be splattered...

HEERO: (cutting him off and talking to Hilde) Does anyone know this train's unmanned.

Hilde smirks. It's a pretty dumb question.

HILDE: They should after we hit that caboose.

DUO; (relieved) So the whole railroad knows...We'll, they'll be waiting for us up ahead won't they. With ambulances.

It's a very faint hope. Heero quickly quashes it.

HEERO: Yeah, and cops.

Duo and Hilde slowly look at him. Heero curses to himself.

HILDE: (slowly) Cops?

She suddenly jumps up, pointing at Duo.

HILDE: I know your face! Your picture was on the most wanted list at my OZ barracks. You're Gundam Pilot 02.

HEERO: (suddenly suspicious) You're with OZ?

HILDE: (she realises she's said too much) No...I mean...I used to be.

The two look at her.

HILDE: I was a mobile suit pilot on L2. But I left when I saw what OZ did to people who opposed it.

HEERO: You went AWOL?

She nods slowly. Heero grunts and looks away from her.

HILDE: (laughing humourlessly) Boy did you guys pick the wrong train.

Heero death-glares at her but fails to shut her up.

DUO: (trying to bridge the apparent gulf between the two ex-soldiers) So we're all on the lam from OZ...

He grins rakishly at Hilde and pulls an over-done bow.

DUO: The God of Death at your service mam', recently of Stonehaven.

HILDE: (smiling weakly) Hilde Schbeiker.

Heero grunts in disgust at Duo's fraternising with the enemy. Now it's Duo's turn to spin on him.

DUO: What's your problem Heero! You said it yourself, the war's over! And we're all in this mess together and we're not going to survive if you refuse to co-operate.

HEERO: (seemingly on another train of thought) I ain't giving up. No matter what I have to do. No matter who has to die, I ain't giving Une that pleasure no way!

Duo gives up on him and rests his head on the front window.

HEERO: (grimly) I ain't getting caught alive.

Duo pounds his fist on the glass at Heero's stubbornness.

HEERO: (looking at the pair of them) And you neither.

It's his form of a reconciliation. Duo blinks in surprise and the offered truce.

286 EXT. HIGHWAY

A whole convoy of emergency vehicles tears along the highway, sirens howling. Fire engines, ambulances, even a commandeered school bus filled with workmen.

287 EXT. SENECA

Several railroad workers are gathered at the side of the road by their company car. The emergency crew, headed by a pair of police cars pull up beside them with a screech.

The man in charge of the railroad team, SOLOMON, grabs the leader of the police officers as he climbs out. Soloman has to yell over the moaning wind.

SOLOMON: Thanks for getting here so fast.

OFFICER: How long?

SOLOMON: thirty-five minutes.

The two turn and stare at the camera as the various firemen, paramedics etc begin unloading their equipment.

288 EXT. SENECA BRIDGE - SOLOMAN / OFFICER'S POV

The railroad emerges out of a tunnel and runs straight out over the Seneca trestle. It's amazingly old, a long, low wood assembly spanning the valley and the frozen river.

As the wind blows, the old trestle creaks.

289 INT. CENTRAL

Frank is still smiling broadly as he works his system. Some of the staff consider him like he's a mental case. He hums to himself. MacDonald looks ready to explode with tension.

Noin comes in, several rolled-up maps under her arm. Frank spins round.

290 FRANK: You got them?

Noin responds by unrolling the maps on a hastily cleared desk. Frank stands up. He's wearing a hands off radio headset. As he walks over to Noin he taps the microphone built into it.

FRANK: BF9 do you read me.

291 EXT. BF9 - SIDING

Three massive SD70 MAC Super Diesels are working at full power to reverse the BF9, a massive freight train off Track One and onto Track Two. The navy and yellow machines, 4000 horsepower apiece rumble with barely suppressed energy.

292 INT. BF9 LEAD CAB

The style of this cab is somewhere between the Runaway and the Eastbound 12. Like the eastbound twelve there's several computer screens dotted around the cab, but like the runaway the control panel is a mass of levels and switches. The cab vibrates to the tune of the massive diesel engine just a few feet astern.

HANK CORAN (45), a black engineer, is in the driver's seat, a similar phone rig to Barstow's on his head, gunning the throttle violently. He is a chubby, good-natured man.

HANK: (into mouthpiece) BF9 here. I'm switching tracks.

He turns and looks out the back door to check the progress of this tricky manoeuvre.

293 INT. CENTRAL

The horrendous racket of BF9's move is heard on a speaker. Music to the ears of everyone in the control room. Frank is behind the maps, staring at them, planning his next assault on the runaway.

HANK'S VOICE: (over speaker) Frank...Are you there?

FRANK: (unusually nice) Sure am...at your service.

294 INT. BF9 LEAD CAB

Hank pauses. his isn't dumb.

HANK: Oh, boy...spit it out Frank.

FRANK'S VOICE: (over headset) Just listen...Once you're on Track two detach your freight.

HANK: (suspicious) What for?

295 INT. CENTRAL

Frank traces his finger along the map.

FRANK: How would you like to make yourself and your mate one thousand bucks?

Everyone is looking at Frank, confused by this offer.

296 INT. BF9 LEAD CAB

Hank is shaking his head. He knows there's got to be a catch.

HANK: Who do you want me to kill?...Superintendent MacDonald?

297 INT. CENTRAL

MacDonald reacts to that statement and several staff barely suppress their giggles. Frank however is dead serious.

FRANK: Cut the bullshit Hank. The runaway coming up behind you...

Noin and Trowa have realised what he's planning and share a glance.

FRANK: ...As soon as she passes you're gonna go after her!

No one can believe what they're hearing.

298 INT. BF9 LEAD CAB

HANK: (dumbfounded) We are going to do what?

299 INT. CENTRAL

MacDonald looks like a heart attack candidate. he grabs Frank.

MACDONALD: I want to talk to you Barstow.

Frank switches off his mike.

FRANK: Eddie, the more you talk the less of a chance you've got to save the Seneca bridge...

Frank flicks the mike back on without waiting for MacDonald's answer. he knows he's in control.

FRANK: Hank...I got no time to talk to you...You're the only unit with enough power to stop her. You're gonna chase that bastard...Get behind her, couple up and apply your brakes...Yes or no?

300 INT. BF9 LEAD CAB

HANK: (loving it) One thou? You're on!

301 EXT. BF9

The lead engine of the BF9 clears the switch which snaps shut, clearing the path for the runway.

302 INT. BF9 CAB

Hank brakes and idles the engines. He's excited, looking forward to the challenge.

A door slams and his mate, SAM DROVER (19) comes up the stairs from the crew toilet in the nose. He walks to the back of the cab where there's a microwave and a hot-plate, a pot of coffee warming. Hank sniggers as Sam pours himself a mug.

SAM: What is it?

HANK: (euphoric) We're gonna make ourselves one thousand dollars.

Sam blinks. Hank laughs again.

HANK: We're gonna chase the runaway.

Sam can't figure all of this out.

SAM: (concerned for Hank) You want a cup of coffee?

HANK: No I don't want a damn coffee! C'mon...move your ass, young man, we've got work to do.

Sam is open-mouthed.

303 INT. CENTRAL

On the map the runaway's light is about to overtake the portion of Track Two occupied by the BF9.

Trowa is speculating with himself whether this plan will succeed. Noin is tense with fear. MacDonald is pale.

Frank looks at them with a smirk. Macdonald is ready to throw up.

304 INT. BF9 CABOOSE

The brakeman is pouring himself coffee when he hears something outside.

305 EXT. REAR OF BF9

He comes out onto his deck and stares in surprise as the monster engines go tearing by.

306 INT. 4TH ENGINE CAB

Heero's packing his bag again. Duo's helping Hilde, her waist now bandaged pull the top half of her overalls back on.

Suddenly she looks out the side window to see the long rake. She's nervous.

DUO: what is it?

HILDE: This might be it...we've already gone through one caboose...

DUO: Anything we can do?

HILDE: Too late now.

The three wait for whatever fate's going to throw at them.

307 EXT. RUNAWAY / BF9

Runaway zooming alongside BF9

308 INT. 4TH ENGINE CAB

They are anticipating the worst. Duo is looking around nervously, Hilde is bracing herself. Heero however is calm, watching dispassionately through the window.

309 EXT. BF9

Hank is leaning through the window of his cab window watching Sam, who is running up the side of the three units having detached the freight. We can see the runaway approaching in the middle distance and we realise that unless Sam makes it to the front of the train the Runaway's going to clip him.

HANK: Come on kid! You can do it!

Sam makes it to the ladder and swings himself up it as the lead engine scrapes past the BF9 in a thunder of snow.

310 INT. 4TH ENGINE CAB

Hilde is the first one to the window, realising they've passed the BF9. Heero and Duo join her at the window.

311 EXT. POV FROM RUNAWAY

The BF9 is just a dot on the horizon.

312 INT. BF9 CAB

Through the window the signal tower on the switch changes to green just as Sam runs in through the nose door.

HANK: (hollering) Let's go!

Hank throws the throttle open. The diesels respond with a tumultuous roar.

313 EXT. BF9

As the engines crawl forward the switch springs open to let them through. They labour over the switch at an exasperatingly slow speed. Gradually they clear it and a shudder runs through the segmented body.

Heaving violently the three engines make their initial leap after the far gone train.

314 INT. BF9 CAB

Sam is hunched over Hank's shoulder as the two peer ahead. he grabs the whistle chain and the BF9 roars it's challenge to the runaway.

The chase is on!

315 INT. CENTRAL

Frank, leaning over the railroad maps stands up and claps his hands together.

HANK: (like he's at a race-track) And they're off!

MacDonald titters nervously. He's a living knot.

MACDONALD; Now we just gotta pray the rails hold up

He turns to Trowa, who pulls a colour coded railroad map out of the stack, the different colours indicating the condition of the rails and speed limits. He looks at MacDonald.

TROWA: We're good.

316 INT. BF9 CAB

The speedometer, a graphic on a computer screen climbs rapidly through the 30mph zone. Hank and Sam stare ahead.

317 EXT. POV FROM BF9

The runaway is out of sight, and all they can see is the rails merging at infinity.

SAM (VO): We pull this off we get one helluva Christmas bonus.

BACK TO HANK...

...As he turns to look at Sam.

HANK: Kid, we pull this off they oughta give us the whole damn railroad.

Hank advances the throttle. The BF9 continues to accelerate.

318 INT. CENTRAL

On the map the BF9's light is catching up on the runaway.

SOMEONE'S VOICE: C'mon...Go!

The tension is unbearable.

NOIN: What's their speeds?

FRANK: Ninety on the runaway, and forty-five on the BF9. Looks like Hank is gonna make it.

TROWA: (voice of reason) They're still a mile apart.

MACDONALD: (anxious for success) So what. At this rate...

TROWA: If he doesn't latch up with them by Port Byron, we're gonna have to throw him a red light.

FRANK: (doesn't like anyone questioning his plan) Why?

Everyone clusters around Trowa who takes Frank's place at the map.

319 DETAIL - MAP

TROWA (VO): The runway is...here.

His finger stabs the map.

TROWA (VO); Ten miles east of Port Byron, and twenty-five miles west of Seneca.

His fingers touch the two points.

TROWA: The runaway will hit Seneca Bridge first...and it'll tear it apart...

BACK TO MACDONALD...

...Who begins to sweat heavily.

MACDONALD: ...And that'll derail the BF9! Frank! Call it off!

FRANK: (death-glaring Trowa) We've got to give Hank time.

NOIN: You could give him till the canyon between Port Byron and Seneca tunnel. That gives us fifteen minutes, a bit more.

FRANK: (refusing to hear it) We'll catch her.

His eye is beginning to twitch.

MACDONALD: You'd better! Cos' I don't want to loose the bridge and seven engines.

Words of doom are beginning to spread. Amazingly, there's gambling going on at the back of the room between the staff, wagering the outcome of the chase.

As one man lays down a bottle of Jack Daniels, we look through the glass rear wall...

...And Une walks into the reception.

320 INT. 4TH ENGINE CAB

Hilde is in the engineer's seat, hand on the throttle, as if she were riding the beast. Duo is watching her, definitely taken by her.

Heero is pacing the cab, trying to work out a plan.

He seems to make a decision and grabs his bag.

321 INT. BF9 CAB

Sam's face is glued to the windshield. Hank on the other hand is working the controls like a pro, trying to coax every ounce of power out of the engines.

322 INT. CENTRAL

The BF9's light is agonisingly slowly gaining on the runway. The mark denoting Port Byron station is looming near.

MACDONALD: (beginning to doubt the plan) Can they make it.

FRANK: (also nervous) They've gotta make it. Hank's the guy who set all the speed records.

The runaway's now holding stead on ninety, and the BF9 is nearing sixty- five.

323 INT. 4TH ENGINE CAB

Heero's making moves to jump. Duo and Hilde both think he's nuts as he drags his clothes on and starts checking his duffel bag.

DUO: This is suicide Heero. No-one stands a chance at this speed.

Duo knows however that Heero is firm in his decision. Hilde however tries to convince Heero to change his mind.

HILDE: You can't jump here - you'll die.

Heero ignores her and takes a slug from the bottle of bourbon Duo found at the railyard.

HILDE: (desperate) You jump now you're gonna break every bone in your body and then one.

HEERO: They've all been broke before.

Hilde looks in disbelief at Duo who nods. Heero's serious. Heero looks at Duo, who makes no moves to get ready.

HEERO: You coming?

DUO: No way. I would have been with you till the wheels come off, but this is just...

He trails off, and faintly, we hear something, but the tension is so thick that ourprotagonists don't.

It's the whistle on the BF9.

324 INT. BF9 CAB

We see Sam yank the whistle again. Hank lets the throttle out further. Sam begins to find the sound of the diesels alarming. He checks the gauges,

SAM: (concerned for their train) Not so fast Hank...She'll blow out.

HANK: (knows his stuff) Not yet she won't.

325 INT. 4TH ENGINE CAB

Heero's about to leave. Hilde blocks the door.

HILDE: You can't go.

HEERO: No?

HILDE: You can't leave us alone here.

HEERO: I don't care who jumps with me.

He grabs her and pushes her out the way. She flies across the cab and hits the rear door, her weight opening it. Snow blows into the cabin.

Heero opens the front door. Duo's about to slap some sense into him but Heero suddenly holds a hand up. Duo freezes mid punch.

Silence, just the howling wind blowing through the two open doors.

THE WHISTLE BLOWS FAINTLY

Heero slowly turns round and glares at Hilde.

HEERO: Who's blowing the damn whistle now.

It slowly dawns on Hilde.

HILDE: (excited) That's not our train.

The three exchange a glance. Duo and Hilde are relieved, but Heero is suddenly grim.

326 INT. BF9 We see Sam on the whistle again, blowing it at short intervals. Hank is staring ahead.

HANK: Damn! I can smell her.

He speaks to the engines.

HANK: C'mon girls! Fly!

We see the speedometer creep through the 90mph mark.

327 INT. CENTRAL

Frank suddenly crows with delight.

FRANK: Hank just passed ninety-five. That's the fastest we've ever clocked.

He speaks into his mike.

FRANK: (exuberant) Hank! You just broke our record!

HANK'S VOICE: (over speaker) How close am I to her?

Frank computes.

FRANK: Less than quarter of a mile!

Everyone's excited now.

328 INT. CENTRAL - RECEPTION

Une paces, watching the figures inside. She hasn't noticed Noin yet, but realises something's wrong.

329 EXT. MAJESTIC LANDSCAPE – CAMERA AT RAIL LEVEL

As the wheels of the runaway whiz past, the rails are forced down into the snow. After the wheels pass, the rails hold a humming tone. In the background there is a family of moose majestically striding through the naked forest. Hold here for about five seconds. The tone begins to build during this time and as it reaches an ear-splitting crescendo, the wheels of the BF9 speed by.

330 INT. CAB Sam points ahead ecstatically.

SAM: We did it! We did it!

Hank doesn't respond. That was the easy part. Now the real work's beginning.

331 INT. 4TH ENGINE

POV FROM RUNAWAY

The BF9 appears through the snow.

DUO (VO): (amazed) They're chasing us!

CUT TO HILDE-

As she yanks on the 4th engine's whistle before Heero can stop her.

The whistle is deafening at this close range.

332 INT. BF9 CAB

As the runaway sounds out, Hank slowly looks at Sam.

HANK: Tell me that wasn't you.

Sam slowly shakes his head.

333 EXT. THEIR POV OF THE RUNAWAY

The train tries to flee before them, but they're eating up the distance quickly.

Hilde can be seen on the rear deck of the train, waving.

334 INT. 4TH ENGINE CAB

Heero and Duo stare out the window. Duo is pulling on his clothes.

DUO: We're gonna be saved.

Heero turns away from the window, agitated.

HEERO: Depends on how you look at it.

Duo stares at him in disbelief.

HEERO: How do you know Une isn't already on that train.

He's enraged.

HEERO: I'm not just going to let that bitch take me...Do you understand that!

Heero goes for the front door.

DUO: (dumbfounded) Where're you going...are you nuts?

HEERO; I'm jumping.

Duo gets in front of the door and pushes Heero away.

DUO: No way.

HEERO: (threatening) Get away from that door...

DUO: (emotional) I don't care...I'm not moving. I ain't letting you kill yourself.

HEERO: I broke out to be free...Not just to stay alive...Free...I'm taking a shot at it. Get out of my way.

Heero steps closer, but Duo suddenly produces a monkey wrench from the tool box and lifts it.

Heero doesn't move. He's testing him.

DUO: (threatening and pleading at the same time) You've already got one busted arm...I'll do the other one too, I swear. I'm not gonna let you die.

Duo is determined. Heero knows it. It's a standoff.

DUO: (on the verge of tears) We need you Heero.

Heero blinks. He hadn't expected that.

DUO: Me...Hilde...If this fails, we need you to survive...And what about the two hundred guys we left behind...What about Zechs?

The stalemate continues. Through the window, Hilde waves with both of her arms, totally unaware of the drama unfolding inside.

335 EXT. STATION

The camera is mounted above the roof of a small station building. The village is a picturesque community on the edge of a lake. As the camera begins to pan down we see the runway zoom by. As the BF9 passes in turn, we see the name written on the side of the station.

Port Byron.

336 INT. CENTRAL

The single, merged light overtakes the station. The canyon is near.

TROWA: We've only got seven minutes left.

Frank is confident. Noin is biting a fingernail. MacDonald looks pale and sick.

337 EXT. RUNAWAY / NF9

The BF9 has closed up now to within fifty feet of the runaway. Hilde's motioning them on.

338 INT. BF9

Hank turns to Sam.

HANK: Get down on the lead deck.

Sam nods silently and grabs some equipment from a cabinet before scrambling down the nose stairs. Hank slowly increases the throttle, closing the gap.

339 EXT. BF9 LEAD DECK

Sam pushes the nose door open and climbs out. He's got a mountaineering harness on around his waist. He motions OK to Hilde.

Quickly he hooks the harness onto the railing and bends down to undo the locking bar on his lead coupler. It comes out first try and the metal hand opens slightly.

340 EXT. RUNAWAY REAR DECK

Hilde gets down on her knees, holds onto a railing with one hand and tries to pull her locking bar up. It doesn't give, frozen to the coupler.

Sam watches helplessly from the BF9 as she desperately tries again.

341 EXT. DETAIL - COUPLING BAR

Another hand suddenly comes into frame and grabs the bar along with Hilde. It's Heero's. Straining, the pair of them lift the reluctant lock out of the coupling mechanism. Duo stands behind Heero, unable to squeeze past him.

Though the locking pin's out, we notice that the ice-encrusted coupler on the runaway doesn't open like the BF9's.

BACK TO HILDE

As she gives Sam a thumbs up, he motions for her to signal Hank on, he has to keep kneeling to hold his locking bar out.

Hilde stands up and Duo takes her place, precariously leaning out over the rails.

342 INT. BF9 CAB

Hank is trying to see over the nose of the engine which blocks his view. Hilde climbs up the ladder on this end of the 4th engine where he can see her and locks her left arm under the rung so she can wave him on with her right.

343 EXT. 4TH ENGINE

Hilde starts motioning him on like a traffic cop. To show he's understood, Hank quickly blasts his whistle and starts inching forwards to close the final ten feet.

Heero's climbed down the side steps on the 4th engine almost to rail level. He leans out so he can see ahead, still considering a jump.

344 EXT. HEERO'S POV

The rocks and trees scattered by the track fly towards and past him.

BACK TO HEERO...

...As he climbs back up and grabs onto Duo's belt buckle, securing him.

Duo nods. Hilde continues to motion BF9 on. The gap's now down to two feet.

345 EXT. LAKE

The two trains are now beside a picturesque lake, reflected in the cold clear waters.

346 INT. BF9 CAB

Hank suddenly ups the throttle to give the engines the jerk they need to lock the two couplers.

347 EXT. BF9 / RUNAWAY

The three engines bounce ahead, too fast.

348 EXT. DETAIL - COUPLERS

The BF9's coupler rams into the runaway's, which doesn't accept it like it should. Instead it holds shut and transmits the force of the impact into the four engines.

349 EXT. RUNAWAY

The BF9 has rear-ended the runaway.

This all happens very quickly. Sam is thrown forward into his railing. Hilde's feet slip off the ladder and she hangs there by her arms.

Duo is thrown forward and nearly rolls off the end of the engine. Heero however is holding his belt and is dragged forward with him. To save them both, Heero grabs the railing with his back arm and grimaces with the pain.

350 INT. BF9 CAB

HANK: Shit!

He cuts down on the throttle and the BF9 withdraws.

CUT TO

Duo's eyes bulge in shock. Heero and Hilde grab his hands and drag him back onto the deck.

351 INT. CENTRAL

Everyone's frozen, watching the board tensely.

352 EXT. BF9 / RUNAWAY

The trains are closing together again. This time, Hilde's holding the bar with Duo hanging onto her. Heero's down on the side ladder where he can see the coupler in profile. He motions Hank on, who's leaning out of his cab so he can see Heero.

353 INT. BF9 CAB

Hank begins to accelerate forward, but slower this time.

354 EXT. COUPLERS

The BF9's coupler buffers up to the runaway's. Instead of trying to ram the two together, Hank gradually applies pressure to try and open the runaway's coupling.

355 EXT. 4TH ENGINE

Heero realises what Hank's trying to do and lies on his belly beside Duo and starts chipping at the ice in the coupling mechanism with his knife. Hank drops back a few feet to give him room to work.

The ice begins to crack.

356 EXT. SENECA

All of the emergency teams are ready for the train. Two police boats are in the water, ready to fish out any survivors of the coming crash and a massive crane is on the highway beside the railroad to lift wreckage aside.

Solomon's team are on the bridge deck, making a rapid survey of the trestle to see if it will hold up to the stress. Two men hang on abseiling gear from the railings, checking the pilings.

Every few seconds the workers glance fearfully towards the black tunnel mouth, half-expecting the runaway to suddenly pounce upon them.

357 EXT. BF9 / RUNAWAY

Heero's efforts are proving fruitful. Ice is now falling off the coupling in big chunks, dropping onto the rails and exploding like tiny cluster bombs.

Satisfied, Heero gets up and waves the BF9 on again.

358 EXT. COUPLERS

Again Hank closes up and pushes against the runaway. The coupler creaks but still refuses to give.

359 INT. BF9

Frustrated, Hank starts applying more power.

360 EXT. COUPLERS

The extra force does it. With a massive snapping noise the coupler on the runaway opens and admits the BF9's. Hilde lets go of the bar and the locking pin drops into place.

The two trains are now one unified body, seven thundering diesel engines. Sam and Duo reach across the gap and shake hands.

361 EXT. CANYON

The scenery suddenly rises up around them, sheer walls of rock bordering the railroad and river. The sound of the seven machines echoes loudly off the walls of the canyon.

Time just ran out.

362 INT. CENTRAL

The light shows no signs of slowing. Seneca bridge is now only fifteen minutes away. Frank pounds his hands on the desk in dismay..

FRANK: (crushed) We've got to stop Hank.

Silence. all eyes are riveted on Frank, now twice defeated by the runway.

MACDONALD: (choking) You can't do that! That was our last chance...

Frank hangs his head in despair. Noin comes up and rests her hands on his shoulders, comforting him.

FRANK: (firmer) We have to...

363 INT. BF9 CAB

Hank idles the throttle. His units are now being dragged by the runaway and the weight slows them. The speed is now down to seventy five.

He grabs the dynamic brake lever and slowly begins to apply it.

364 EXT. BF9 WHEELS

The wheels begin to moan as the electric brakes kick in.

365 EXT. BF9 / RUNAWAY

The coupling groans under the strain but holds. The change in speed can be felt. Hilde and Duo hug each other. Heero waits to see what happens.

366 EXT. RUNAWAY LEAD ENGINE

The wheels, fighting against the BF9 begin to kick up sparks.

The two trains seem evenly matched, the opposing forces balancing out.

367 INT. BF9 CAB

Hank is frustrated.

HANK: C'mon stop you bastard.

The radio goes off in his ear.

FRANK'S VOICE: (over radio) Hank, cut off now!

HANK: (determined) Hell no...I'm hooked on to her. You gotta give me time.

FRANK'S VOICE: (over radio) We don't have time.

HANK: I gotta get these people off at least...

FRANK'S VOICE: (over radio) Hank don't try to be a hero...

Hank flips the radio off and blows the whistle hard and repeatedly.

368 EXT. BF9 / RUNAWAY

The whistle goes off in their ears and they clutch them. Sam realises Hank's meaning.

SAM: Holy crap!

He leans out, one foot on the coupling and yells to the three on the runaway. They stare at him confused.

SAM: Get your asses over here!

369 INT. CENTRAL

The conjoined lights speed towards Seneca.

TROWA: He's not stopping.

MacDonald's in a panic.

MACDONALD: Barstow, stop that maniac!

Frank flips several switches.

370 EXT. BF9 / RUNAWAY

Sam reaches out to the three who still haven't caught his meaning.

SAM: (yelling) Time just ran out...Get the hell over here!

They suddenly understand him and there's a few seconds of chaos. Duo pushes Hilde forward and she reaches out towards Sam.

371 EXT. LEAD ENGINE CABSIDE

Looking ahead a red signal flies up and past.

372 INT. BF9 CAB

Looking through the window Hank sees the approaching signal.

HANK: (in anguish) No!

373 EXT. BF9 / RUNAWAY

Sam and Hilde's outstretched fingers just meet.

374 RAPID CUT TO SIGNAL...

As the three units of the BF9 shoot by.

375 INT. BF9 CAB

Several gauges and readouts glare red...

376 RAPID CUT TO

EXT. BF9 BRAKES

...As the automatic brakes of the BF9 come on! Fire, sparks and smoke shoot out of the wheel assemblies.

377 INT. BF9 CAB

Hank's eyes go wide before a massive shockwave shoots through the trains, throwing him forward.

HANK: F**k!

378 EXT. BF9 / RUNAWAY

Heero realises what's happened just in time and pulls Hilde back as the brakes come on, throwing them towards the front of the train.

Sam isn't so lucky. The impact shoots him forward over the BF9s railing. Held only by his harness he hangs on the front of the BF9, his feet inches above the rails as his hands scrabble for a grip.

379 EXT. DETAIL - COUPLERS

The coupling strains under the increased stress.

380 EXT. BF9 / RUNAWAY

Heero, Duo and Hilde are all lying on their backs. Hilde scrambles to her feet and leaps for the coupling, desperate to make it to the other train. Duo grabs her around the waist...

381 EXT. DETAIL - COUPLERS

...As the coupling snaps apart!

382 EXT. BF9

The brakes lock the wheels and the BF9 drops back.

383 INT. BF9 CAB

Hank drags himself to his feet and literally flies down the stairs.

384 EXT. BF9

Hank runs out onto the front deck and drags Sam to safety. The two hold onto each other as he undoes Sam's harness and pulls him into the cab.

385 INT. BF9 CAB

Sam collapses into his seat, breathing deeply. Hank pounds his hands on the windows in frustration.

HANK: (maddened) Red light!...Damn it!...We were so close. I can't stand it!...We lost her...

Sam gestures forward.

SAM: (chest heaving) We lost them too...

386 EXT. POV FROM BF9

The three figures begin to fade as the runaway pulls ahead.

387 EXT. 4TH ENGINE

Hilde stares as her "saviour" blows one last "good-bye" whistle and falls back. She is crushed.

388 INT. CENTRAL

The room is sombre. Except for a few workers claiming their wins, no one moves as the single light breaks into two.

FRANK: (trying to reassure) They did build bridges pretty good in those days...

MACDONALD: (giving up) Yeah...Back before diesel engines.

Frank shows his despair by shutting his eyes, rubbing his temples. Trowa's consulting the maps Noin found as he rolls them up.

TROWA: (nailing the coffin) Not a single siding before the bridge. It's single track right through Seneca.

MACDONALD: (to Frank, belligerent) It's all your doing...That dumb chase...I should have derailed the sonuvabitch...Now we're gonna loose the bridge and you can kiss your job goodbye.

Frank is suddenly mad.

FRANK: (to MacDonald) Shut up! I wasn't going to just throw somebody's life away and I'm not now! The bridge will hold! And we still have to deal with her after Seneca.

He turns.

FRANK: (to everyone, adrenalin pumping) All right...Let's move! Start clearing Track One after Seneca - this thing's not gonna stop for us to clear its way!

Trowa jumps back to the controls as Frank starts issuing commands. The place is buzzing again though no-one is really sure just what the plan is. MacDonald glares at Frank, convinced the bridge will fail.

Noin grabs her phone.

NOIN: (yelling down the phone) Seneca bridge! Seneca bridge! Get well clear she's coming through!