TITLE
ACT 3
EXT – CHICAGO WAREHOUSE – DAY
TITLE
Chicago
KEVIN calmly opens the door of deserted warehouse.
INT
He steps inside and there is nothing but A box with a corded phone, outdated for even the post-second impact era. The phone is not plugged in anywhere. KEVIN searches the area, expecting something from nothing. The back door creaks open. KEVIN places his hand in his blazer and walks to the ajar door. FRIDA, a spy, sits on the curb on the other side
FRIDA
It's me.
KEVIN
Rather anticlimactic. How did
you beat me here?
FRIDA
We reached the same conclusion.
of 105 companies associated with
the Marduk institute this makes
the 104th that is a dummy.
KEVIN
We know the real one.
FRIDA
We've managed to obtain the board
of directors for the institute.
KEVIN
Eastman, Winters, Lorenz and some
assorted nobodies I assume.
FRIDA
Dr. Archbold is also on the list.
KEVIN
Rachel, huh? I'm already playing with fire.
Tackling Rachel might be a
bridge too far.
FRIDA
No one is closer to the technical
side of the project than her.
Whatever intel may be useful we
expect you to mine it.
KEVIN
She's not really my style, the
straight-As mean girl type.
Not for me, thanks.
FRIDA
We know that the human
instrumentality project is
already underway. Intel is
vital.
KEVIN
So my vitals are at risk?
Fair enough. Don't call me
anymore.
FRIDA
Be at the next rendezvous.
Doubts are growing about
you and we expect results.
KEVIN take a moment to quell his irrational fear of death. Then he leaves the room.
INT. SONYAS' APT – DAY
SHANE, and ZERA are seated. SHANE is on a laptop. ZERA reads a book.
SHANE
I didn't say this before, but thank you for
coming over. But I do like, you know
spending time with you.
ZERA
I don't doubt that.
SHANE
The anniversary of my mothers' death is
coming up soon.
ZERA
Why are you telling me?
SHANE
You're the one my father talks to, Zera.
When you to are together you look like
you can actually connect. What should
I say to him?
ZERA
I don't know. What the commander and I do
just comes naturally. However you and he
may interact on that day will also be
natural for who you both are. Won't it?
You may speak kindly or you may quarrel,
but you will be yourselves honestly.
SHANE
I guess you're right.
ZERA
Then what happens will be true.
ZERA goes back to reading.
SHANE
Zera, what do you do for pleasure?
ZERA
Pleasure?
SHANE
You must do something other than
read. Your place doesn't have
any books. But I don't know. It
doesn't seem like you take pleasure
in anything.
ZERA
That's not true.
SHANE
I don't see it.
ZERA
Don't worry about it.
They look in eachothers' eyes.
SHANE
What are you reading?
ZERA
The bible.
SHANE
Do you believe in it?
ZERA
Not a word.
SHANE
Why read it then?
ZERA
Behold, thou art
Fair, my love, thou hast doves' eyes within
thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats.
that appear from mount Gilead. (she skips down)
Thy neck is like the tower of David
builded for an armoury whereupon there hang
a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty
men. Thy two breasts are like two young
roes that are twins which feed among the
lilies.
SHANE
Stop. Just stop.
ZERA
To look upon a woman and only think
think of cattle and war.
SHANE
This is going to sound corny, but I can't
remember the last time someone read me
a story. It's a very motherly thing.
ZERA
Motherly?
SHANE (Chuckling)
Yeah. I bet you'll make a great mother,
Zera.
ZERA hides her face in the book.
ZERA
What are you saying?
AMANDA enters wearing a pretty but casual dress and flats.
AMANDA
Bitches ain't shit but hoes and
tricks. Hey, guys, how do I look?
AMANDA spins at the center of the living room
SHANE
Yep. That's Amanda. That's what you
look like.
AMANDA
You ready to go?
SHANE
We don't have to be there until later.
AMANDA
Oh, Jesus.
SHANE
You want to sit around the base, or here?
It's more comfortable here if you ask me.
AMANDA lays flat on the floor and exhales, slightly disgruntled
AMANDA
What are you doing, Shane?
SHANE
It's a learning module.
AMANDA
What's it about?
SHANE
Thermal expansion.
AMANDA
Geeze. Kids stuff. You at least know the
basics, right? In general things expand
when they are warmed and contract when
cooled.
SHANE
Yep. That's reasonable.
AMANDA puts her hand on her chest.
AMANDA
If I were to do this and warm my boobs by
hand, do you think they will get bigger?
The awkward silence in the room is exactly what AMANDA had desired.
SHANE
I wouldn't take your word for it.
I'd have to use my own hands to be
sure.
AMANDA lets it sink in for a moment then stands and heads to the kitchen.
AMANDA
And in front of the first child too!
You're a hopeless pervert, you know
that Shane?
SHANE
It's my joke and I'm sticking to it.
AMANDA growls in frustration. She sits up.
AMANDA
Let's go do something.
THE PING OF AN ALUMINUM BAT
EXT – BALL PARK – DAY
A Softball bounds through the grass. SHANE runs to the leather spheroid and tosses it to the pitcher. AMANDA is on the mound, she underhand lobs a softball to ZERA. ZERA smacks the spheroid center and true. The ball high-arcs to outfield where SHANE watches it go up, and he scrambles to get under it.
SHANE
I got it. I got it.
SHANE loses the ball in the sun, stumbles, falls over and the ball hits the ground. He sits up, mortified. AMANDA calls to him.
AMANDA
I've told top notch to hit it
to you, and she's gotten you
dead on at least five times.
SHANE
And I dropped five times.
Get off my ass.
AMANDA
Just open your glove and let
it in.
SHANE takes the ball and approaches the mound. AMANDA flicks his forehead.
AMANDA (CTD)
Wanna say something?
SHANE
Fuck off.
AMANDA
Are you stupid?
SHANE
You want to field?
ZERA comes to the mound.
ZERA
Are we done?
AMANDA
Shane?
SHANE
I want to pitch.
AMANDA
Pfft.
SHANE
How about batting?
ZERA hands him the bat.
A brilliant flash of light explodes in the distance. The pilots run for the dugout and peek over the edge.
SHANE
Nuclear?
AMANDA holds her hand up to the blast. Shadow black.
AMANDA
No. I can't see my bones.
Almost simultaneously two other flashes appear on opposite and either side of the ball park in the far distance.
SHANE
Oh my god.
AMANDA
Whatever. Get to the dugout and cover
your ears.
The pilots cower in the dugout and the lights fade away slowly but are still powerfully bright as the deafening sounds of the blast hit them. The roar of the blasts hit them three times over as the winds of the rushing explosions whip up dirt and detritus that blanket the surrounding area.
TITLE
God is praying
INT – COMMAND BASE
The staff of RACHEL, SONYA, JEFF, VANCE and AUTUMN are looking at a huge display of the three blast areas around the city. WINTERS and EARL are notably absent. The pilots, still dusty are sitting there as well.
SONYA
So, what do we know?
RACHEL
We detected the blue pattern
incoming just ninety seconds
before the first detonation.
Barely enough time to sound
the alarm and lock down.
AUTUMN
Station staff reported
no serious injuries and the
concussive blasts did little
more than cosmetic damage.
SONYA
Casualties?
VANCE
All three impacts occurred
outside the quarantine zone.
I hope nobody was out there
but-
SONYA
We are certain it's an angel,
yes?
RACHEL
Parts of one. Whatever is this
angel, it detaches elements of
itself for aerial bombardment.
That explains the incoming blue
patterns.
SONYA
Did it make landfall?
RACHEL
Nothing on any of our sweeps.
It's not on the planet. Each
segment exploded completely on
impact.
SONYA
Where is it?
A display comes up of the angel in orbit.
RACHEL
I've feed all the impact data
to the Magi and mother did her
usual good work. The impact
pattern was a match for ballistic
injection from a range of
between 1700 and 3500 Kilometers.
My people say the angel
will probably fall on us in its
entirety on its' next pass.
AMANDA
Fuckin' sword of Damocles up there!
RACHEL
We are quite certain of it's orbital
path. It will be passing the
Australian observational outpost
before sundown.
SONYA
I don't care if they send us photos
of it's an hour before it comes in
for a close up.
RACHEL
The orbit is processing that means
it will not line up with headquarters
again for-
RACHEL picks up a ledger. VANCE leans over to JEFF.
VANCE
You see that, triple shot pattern?
Headquarters is right inside those
three impact spots.
RACHEL
Our estimate is three days. Then
it will come at us personally, just
from the other direction.
SONYA
Three days of what? What's the plan?
RACHEL
That's not my department, Major.
SHANE
Wait a second. Major? She
said Major, right? You were
a captain.
SONYA
I was. The commander promoted
me and booked it out of town
for Antarctica.
RACHEL
He's operating under radio silence
as well. We've got no higher
echelon.
SONYA
Encode a relay regarding the angel
anyway then have it sent over broadcast.
I want them informed even if they can't
reply. How about PR?
JEFF
The explosions are being reported as volcanic
activity.
SONYA
We maintain that cover story as we continue
this operation at least until commander
Eastman returns.
SHANE
Wait. Wait. My father's gone? Nobody tells
me anything!
RACHEL
You are the ranking officer here,
Major. What are your orders?
SHANE
No fucking respect. Swear to god.
SONYA itches her eyebrows and nods to herself with closed eyes.
SONYA
I want a total lockdown of the
city. Every civvy to their homes
and off the roads. I want all
maintenance and road crews on
the streets like crunch time.
Pilots…You're dismissed.
SHANE
You're promoted? We should
celebrate.
SONYA
We'll talk about it later. Get
to the car, both of you. I'll
be about an hour.
The pilots leave. A clock reads 4:10
EXT – NIGHT – SONYAS' CAR EN ROUTE
The clock in SONYAs' car reads 8:50. SONYA, in high thought mode drives while AMANDA in the back lays out and SHANE, bummed looks out the window of the car at the passing lights.
SONYA
Don't worry about the lockdown.
I just ordered it so that we
could make preparations for an
evacuation. Things will go much
smoother once we've cleared out
the roads. We worked it all out.
District by district. This will
be a ghost town this time tomorrow.
Speaking of which, it's my so called
day off, but we'll be doing a
strategy meeting. Rachel will be
coming by to my place - early.
SHANE, exhausted from the wait is barely registering.
SHANE
OK. Cool.
SONYA continues the ride but her thoughts are still swirling and she needs something to take her mind off of her worries.
SONYA
By the way, I saw the synch data
from both of you. Very impressive.
Amanda, you remain in a commanding
lead.
AMANDA
Damn right.
SONYA
But let's really congratulate
Shane who chalked up five points in
a week.
AMANDA
Oh, is that so?
SHANE
Huh. I didn't notice.
AMANDA
Probably popped a boner or something.
SHANE
Really?
SONYA
You have to admit it's impressive, though
right? Almost like he was born for this...
Amanda?
AMANDA
We're off of work, OK? We don't
have to talk about freaking work.
'Work' is an angel that's going to
nuke us to Mars in three days.
I don't want to talk about it!
SHANE
You don't have to-
AMANDA
Shane, I don't want to talk about it!
The car goes silent in the light of AMANDAs' outburst.
SHANE
I don't understand why you're not
happy…Sonya. Promotion is a big
deal.
SONYA
Maybe I am happy. But that's not
why I do what I do. Let's stop off
for a bit. Get some air.
SONYA pulls the car onto the CITY OVERLOOK. She steps out, SHANE follows. AMANDA does not. The icy glare AMANDA shoots at SONYA communicates that AMANDA will not be leaving the car. SHANE and SONYA walk to the overlook.
SONYA
I don't think she likes me.
SHANE
She just gets angry. Don't
take it personally.
SONYA
If you say so.
SHANE
I'm proud of you. You know that.
Major. You made it all that way
from cadet?
SONYA
Not in NERV. I was part of the
Army. Commissioned officer in
the volunteer defense of Alaska. They didn't
hire me until I'd already made second
lieutenant and they let me keep my
rank.
SHANE
What did you do in Alaska?
SONYA
We fought the Russians. In my
service I have three confirmed
kills. For what it's worth.
SHANE
Well you guys won, right?
SONYA
Officially. But actually both
sides ran out of supplies, plus the
collapsing permafrost and meltwater
deluges made fighting a secondary
worry for both sides. My third
year in we held a peace summit.
The Russians kept their settlements
the Americans would oversee taxes
imports & infrastructure and both
sides would report back that the war
is over, the battle won. Last I
heard everyone is English, Russian
bilingual and they made a statue
of me. Whatever. I got into NERV.
That was the plan.
SHANE
But you've done so much more
than that.
SONYA
You don't get me, Shane. You
want to know why I do what I do?
SHANE looks inquisitively. SONYA shuts her eyes.
FLASHBACK
ANTARCTICA – SEPT 10, 2000 – 9:34 PM
CHILD SONYA lies in a snow bank. Her chest is wounded. She is surrounded by detritus and debris of an apparent disastrous explosion. A bright light bathes her from all around as the image zooms to her face. A first person perspective shows that she is looking up at a giant of light towering over her. It extends huge wings to the sky and while this is happening HECTOR, SONYA's father appears in silhouette. He picks up his daughter and takes her to an emergency drop pod. He places the girl inside and hands her a cross necklace.
CHILD SONYA
Dad, what's going on?
The door of the pod locks shut, and the pod drops into a hole in the ice. HECTOR collapses and the light becomes overwhelming. The giant of light screams, and begins to shatter, its wings shred into the sky a dome of giant AT fields form over the landscape which shatter and the core of the angel explodes with unimaginable force that can be seen from a shot seen from space. Antarctica has exploded. Later, st great distance there is the image of the earth with the brilliant explosion like a supernova at the South Pole. The moon aligns with the earth, and the light is blotted out.
BLACK
INT – SONYAS' ROOM – DAY
SONYA awakes and sits up in her bed, having just dreamed and relived the moment of second impact. She walks to the mirror in her room and standing in front of it, takes off her shirt, baring her chest. Below her left breast up to her sternum is a curved scar that she traces with her finger. She looks resolutely into the mirror.
EXT - STREET – DAY
KEVIN pulls up to RACHEL who stands waiting for a ride.
KEVIN
Sorry I'm late. Traffic is
going to be killer.
RACHEL
I only just got here anyway.
RACHEL enters the car and the two of them immediately drive into bumper to bumper traffic. As the car slows to a crawl, KEVIN nervously tests the waters.
KEVIN
Crazy weather, right?
RACHEL
You mean it's hot?
KEVIN
Yeah.
RACHEL
It's always hot.
KEVIN
Yeah. You're right.
RACHEL reclines in the seat, and incidentally brushes a napkin in the cupholder. She picks up the napkin and it reads "The Muddy Waters Bar." RACHELs' eyes immediately dart to KEVIN.
RACHEL
What were you doing in
Chicago?
KEVIN
Business.
RACHEL
This is going to cause a
problem, Kevin. I
will inform the commander.
Then you'll have a problem.
KEVIN
I fix problems. You have
nothing to worry about.
RACHEL
Drive the car.
The car pulls away.
SONYAs' KITCHEN
SHANE is making breakfast frantically. At the dinner table is a full spread breakfast of Pancakes, eggs, French toast, sliced fruits, orange juice, milk, sausage, bacon, cereal and breakfast burritos. AMANDA enters from her room and takes in the sight curiously before moving to the kitchen.
AMANDA
What's all this?
SHANE
Breakfast.
AMANDA
For what army?
SHANE
Sonya got promoted, so I want to
have a little celebration day.
AMANDA
When did you get up to start cooking?
SHANE
About six. If anything is cold
send it back. I can microwave it.
AMANDA
Did you sleep?
SHANE (Shrugs)
Enough. What?
AMANDA looks at SHANE out of a lot of spite and a little jealousy.
AMANDA
If you want her to put out, just
ask. She'll say yes.
SHANE
What's wrong with you?
AMANDA
I don't know. Sense of humor.
SONYAs' door opens, and she comes into the living room. SHANE smiles, tosses his apron and walks over to her. He dresses her with a white sash on which is written "Major win!" SONYA traces the fabric of the sash in the same way as she tracked her scar the scene prior.
SHANE
Congratulations.
SONYA
Thank you, Shane.
SHANE looks at AMANDA.
SHANE
Come on. Something.
AMANDA smiles and claps not quite sardonically but not with entire authenticity.
AMANDA
Woo. Let's eat.
CUT TO AMANDA and SONYA having breakfast and SHANE still working in the kitchen, making the next serving. The doorbell rings. SHANE leaves the kitchen and heads for the front door. He opens the door and sees RACHEL and KEVIN.
SHANE
Oh. Hi. I wasn't expecting
you.
KEVIN
Hello.
SHANE
Well, come on in.
KEVIN and RACHEL are ushered into the dining room.
RACHEL
We've been on the road since
six. You can thank Sonya's
lockdown for that.
SONYA
Oh, I'm sorry. Was emergency
scenario 37 not in the protocols?
RACHEL
Just bitching to get it out,
Major. Don't think anything
of it.
AMANDA
Hi, Kevin.
SONYA
You guys came together?
KEVIN
She was on my route.
SONYA & AMANDA
Sure.
RACHEL
There's not a problem, right?
SONYA
Not at all.
SHANE
We're having a brunch. Want
some eggs Benedict?
SONYA
Mimosa!
KEVIN
Sounds great.
RACHEL
I already ate.
AMANDA
You don't know how to make eggs,
Shane. What are you talking about?
SHANE
What are you talking about?
AMANDA
Let me show you.
SHANE and AMANDA move to the kitchen.
SHANE
The water is boiling already so-
(put the eggs)
AMANDA
Shut up and make it look like
I'm helping.
SHANE
Don't you want to cook?
AMANDA looks back at KEVIN.
AMANDA
I don't know how to cook, just
keep doing what you're doing.
SHANE
Jesus. Stir the Hollandaise
sauce.
AMANDA
The what?
SHANE (Points)
That. Use the whisk.
AMANDA
The what?
SHANE sneers as he hands AMANDA the whisk and she stirs while SHANE drops four eggs into separate glass finger bowls. AMANDA pushes on SHANEs' forehead with a finger.
AMANDA
By god, you're good at
something.
SHANE
Not around a hot stove,
please.
AMANDA
This is nice.
SHANE
What?
AMANDA
Breakfast.
SHANE
If you like it so much,
show some thanks to Sonya.
It's her big day.
AMANDA
She wouldn't do something
like this.
SHANE
Maybe not, but find some
little things, like
breakfast and show some
appreciation for her. Now
watch.
AMANDA
Huh?
SHANE pours a bit of vinegar into the boiling water and starts to stir.
SHANE
This is going to look ugly
but with this trick-
SHANE drops an egg into a sieve, drains it over a slow trickle of water from the sink and then drops the egg into the vortex of boiling water. The whispy whites cloud the water. SHANE sets a timer.
SHANE (CTD)
Four minutes. Put some muffins
in the toaster.
AMANDA
Then what?
SHANE
Go sit down. I'll call you.
AMANDA
No. Make me look good at this.
SHANE
Goddamn it.
At the table, RACHEL sets out some paperwork, KEVIN and SONYA sit across from one another and SONY eyes KEVIN in a suspicious manner.
SONYA
So you two know each other
well?
KEVIN
No.
RACHEL
Yeah. First time we formally
met, I think.
SONYA
Long car ride, though.
RACHEL
You locked the city down and cleared
the roads and then clogged it with
an evacuation. You are a governement
grade-leader for sure.
SONYA
Once traffic is cleared out we'll
secure the streets again, but sorry
for the long ride. You guys
talk about anything?
KEVIN
The weather.
SONYA
Hot, right?
RACHEL
It's always hot.
SONYA
You would say that.
KEVIN is not pleased that SONYA is being obviously antagonistic. RACHEL dispels her frustration by focusing on the paperwork.
RACHEL
Should anyone else be here?
KEVIN
The Omega pilot.
RACHEL
The commander issued
instructions that Stanley-
AMANDA turns from the kitchen.
AMANDA
Yeah! Where is Zera?
I'm making extra!
RACHEL
As I was saying, she's been
ordered to remain on standby.
AMANDA
Command is established in the
theatre not from the rear.
Sonya?
Not wanting to commit to an order, SONYA decides on a stalling tactic.
SONYA
Get her on the phone.
AMANDA takes out her Nokia brick cell phone and dials.
KEVIN
What is impact time frame?
RACHEL
Tomorrow at 4:17 PM.
SONYA
You said three days.
RACHEL
Counting yesterday.
RACHEL places a large black and white photo. The angel, SAHAQUIEL, an impressionist eye with two enormous wings extended is surrounded by golden rings covered in eyes and piercing though the rings are fragments of dark helix structures.
SONYA
So this is it?
RACHEL
The observatory said it was
brighter in the sky than
Venus. No idea on its' mass
but it is at least 800 meters
across.
AMANDA gets through to ZERA on the phone.
AMANDA
Where are you? Come to
Sonyas' place.
ZERA (V.O.)
I have orders to remain here.
AMANDA
We're a team. We are
coordinating tomorrows'
offensive.
ZERA pauses for a moment.
ZERA (V.O.)
I want to talk to Shane.
AMANDA
Why?
ZERA (V.O.)
This is a team decision.
AMANDA grudgingly hands the phone to SHANE
SHANE
Hello?
ZERA (V.O.)
Tell me to come over and I
will.
SHANE
I don't want to force you to-
SHANE looks to see everyone is looking at him.
SHANE
I want you to come over.
ZERA (VO)
I'm on my way.
SHANE
Want anything to eat? Bacon?
Sausage?
ZERA (VO)
I dislike eating meat.
ZERA hangs up the phone on the other end.
SHANE
She's on her way. Also she's a
Vegetarian. I didn't know.
AMANDA
Huh.
SHANE(Spitefully)
Sorry, Chef Amanda, you'll
have to change your recipe.
AMANDA
Oh, that's OK, I know just what to make.
SHANE and Amanda turn back to the kitchen.
AMANDA
Hey, good thinking. That was a nice touch.
SHANE places cooked prosciutto on one of the muffins, immediately places a poached egg on top with a slotted spoon. He points to the Hollandaise sauce.
SHANE
Coat the egg with that.
AMANDA complies and using a ladle gets a reasonably well poured dollop.
AMANDA
Yeah?
SHANE
Yeah. I think so. Give it
to Sonya.
AMANDA takes the plate and goes out to serve KEVIN.
AMANDA
This is my specialty.
KEVIN
Why, thank you.
KEVIN reaches for the pewter salt shaker, but stops as he lifts it. He shakes it.
SONYA
Yeah. Those are the special
shakers. I don't keep them
filled.
AMANDA takes the shaker.
AMANDA
Shane! Think fast!
AMANDA tosses the shaker to SHANE who boggles it a little but makes the catch.
SHANE
Watch it!
AMANDA
Well make sure you fill them
before they go on the table.
SHANE
I was going to!
AMANDA
As in right now.
SHANE
Damn it. I'm on it.
AMANDA
He's useful for some things.
KEVIN tries a slice of his Eggs Benedict.
KEVIN
Amanda, this is the best Eggs Benedict
I've ever had. You're fantastic.
AMANDA
Well, let's also not forget about
Shane. I couldn't have done it
without him.
SHANE (From across the room)
True! True!
SHANE goes back to making breakfast.
EXT - ANTARCTICA - DARK
The Aurora cuts through the empty black sky against a blood red sea. A carrier group Sails through the sea, and on the deck of the ship is a long rod, wrapped in extensive tarps and secured firmly to the flight deck with straps and cables.
INT – BRIDGE OF THE CARRIER.
WINTERS looks out over the oblivion of the dead sea. EARL observes with him.
WINTERS
The garden of Eden was protected
by an angel with a sword of fire.
How fearsome the world has become
now that we have forced him to
use it.
EARL
What was done has purged the world
of its thistles and briars. This
is a pure world. Eden may be
paradise and earth the shores of
Hell but this is a promise of a
serene and endless peace.
WINTERS
You say that even riding a weapon
of war and carrying the great
equalizer. Look into that sea of
blood and that empty night and tell
me, is this the world you want to
forge?
EARL
Weakness led men to beg forgiveness
for their sins. We will purge sin
for all man for all time.
WINTERS
There is no humanity in this place.
EARL
A world without humanity is the
destiny of Earth. Would you rather
succumb or bring our race into
purity and rebirth?
WINTERS
You can't kill sin away. Not this.
EARL
But we can understand it, and
in so doing resolve it. There
will not even be an atoms' weight
of wickedness left in us to
necessitate any mercy.
WINTERS
Even in a world tainted, I'd
rather live among others than
in nothing and with no one.
EARL
And that is exactly why we are
here.
Frustrated, WINTERS goes to the glass and places his hand against the window.
WINTERS
Enough philosophy. None of this
will matter if the angel destroys
Headquarters.
EARL
Is there anything you or I can
do about that?
WINTERS
No.
EARL
Then focus on the task at hand.
I have read the report. Why
is the lance lighter and shorter
than it was before?
WINTERS
It's barely four meters.
EARL
Professor Winters.
WINTERS
It would seem Evers' hypothesis
was correct. Shame he didn't
survive. We could have used his
insight. We weren't able
to maintain the experiment
without cross-contamination.
EARL
Is the artifact compromised?
WINTERS
No. The god slayer was not
exposed. It would seem the
contamination went the other
way.
EARL
The angel has the lance.
WINTERS
Part of it. But is there anything
you or I can do about that?
EARL
We will soon get to
Panama. I don't want to risk
a Pacific crossing until the angel
has been pacified.
WINTERS
And what if there is nothing left?
EARL
Well, then, we made it this far.
Overhead shot of the fleet sailing to the horizon The angel passes overhead.
SHANE (V.O.)
This thing will destroy all of
Washington state?
INT – SONYAS' APARTMENT – NIGHT
Close up on ZERA. There is a pause that leaves SHANEs' line hanging on air.
AMANDA (off screen)
Don't sweat the big stuff.
RACHEL (off screen)
I need to use your printer.
The whirring of the laser jet printer is heard and off screen RACHEL rises to move across the room. ZERA follows her with her eyes and then follows her back to her original seat. ZERA seeing that RACHEL has made eye contact redirects her gaze and sips from a glass of water.
S.O.S.
The sink is filled with dirty dishes, papers have been strewn about, AMANDA and ZERA sit on the couch while KEVIN and RACHEL are seated at the dinner table, RACHEL looking at ZERA refocuses on the paperwork. SONYA rests in her recliner. She has a map in her lap and is marking on it with a marker. SHANE stands in the entry between the den and the kitchen.
RACHEL
The explosion will take out
headquarters and the ocean front
from here to Vancouver. The blast
will level what's left of the
state. The resulting tsunami
will annihilate the Pacific coast,
then a few hours later, Hawaii,
Japan, Korea. Hell, I wouldn't
want to be in Australia right now.
SONYA
Yeah, but you're here. That's
saying something.
RACHEL (glances briefly at ZERA again)
Well, I like a challenge.
SONYA
Pilots, have you made out your
wills?
ZERA
Excuse me?
SONYA
Your last wills and testaments:
you're required to-
AMANDA
Oh, and where are you going to
put them? You have a strong
box graded for cataclysmic
extinction level detonations?
Besides, I'm not going to die
yet. Not to this thing.
ZERA
No will.
There is no point.
SHANE
Yeah. Just give us a plan.
SONYA rises and places the map in front of RACHEL. RACHEL locates an important line of data in the report, then with a ruler crudely makes a circle centering around morning star.
RACHEL
That is the minimum distance.
If it hits anywhere in that
circle then we're looking at
mission failure.
AMANDA
That's a huge area to cover.
SHANE
Almost half of it is water.
We can't stop it if it hits
the sea.
SONYA takes out her red sharpie, and quickly, seemingly arbitrarily marks dots. One, marked A near the northern coast, a second marked S to the east and one marked Z on the southern coast.
SONYA
You launch from those catapults
and then just get under it. Activate
your AT fields, catch it, then take it
down. Let it come to you.
AMANDA
That's it?
SONYA
That's all I have.
AMANDA
This is practically asking for
a miracle.
SONYA
If you want a miracle to happen then
make it happen and hope that God is
praying for you.
AMANDA
We're betting our asses on your
hunches, Major.
SONYA
It's the only plan I've got.
AMANDA
You call this a plan?
SONYA
No. It's a gamble. On you.
If you have a better idea
you have the floor.
SHANE
I'm not a fan of womens' intuition,
Sonya.
SONYA
Womens' intuition? Shane, when
a girl says she believes in you
don't hurt her feelings.
SHANE (Shakes his head)
What have I become?
SONYA
You pull this off and you're all
getting a steak dinner.
No response. SHANE glances at ZERA
SHANE
I don't want steak.
AMANDA
Yeah. You know how rare that
stuff is?
SONYA
Yeah. Not many cattle farms
left. But-
AMANDA
I mean RARE. Have you even
tried to get any meat in this
town? It's like surgery. Blood
everywhere. I come away from a
cheap hamburger looking like a
vampire.
SONYA
Well we'll think of something.
My treat. Anyway, We'll begin the
operation tomorrow morning.
We will be underway by 0-700.
It's late and the roads are closed.
Fuck. You guys need a place to
crash?
LATER
ZERA sleeps on the couch, KEVIN is in a sleeping bag on the floor. There is a pillow and blanket on the recliner. Shot of ZERA sleeping. RACHEL's body comes into frame and the back of her wrist shows the exposed butt of a metal knife is clasped in her hand. Low angle shot of RACHEL as she peers down at ZERA. The gleam of the bladde bleeds across the frame. Reverse down shot of ZERA sleeping helplessly. RACHEL still stands over her with a vindictive glare.
KEVIN (off screen)
Rachel?
RACHEL does not react. The zipper of the sleeping bag is heard.
RACHEL
Yes?
KEVIN
Are you OK?
RACHEL
I was hungry. All that food
and I didn't get a thing to eat.
I was thinking I'd just cut into
some of that meat. Then I'd have
my fill.
Reverse to KEVIN who is sitting up.
KEVIN
Why didn't you?
RACHEL
My mind – elsewhere – hyper focused
and yet… distracted. She's always
there. What does she see? What
has she seen? I pity these
children…With loathing I pity them.
He's just using them. I'm the
only one he really needs.
KEVIN
You told her to stay away, didn't
you? It wasn't the commander's
orders. You don't want her
around.
RACHEL
That would have been best.
KEVIN
Drop it.
RACHEL finally turns.
RACHEL
I may come off as a cold bitch
but do you really think I would
kill a guiltless little girl…
She holds up the blade, stained greasy.
RACHEL (CTD)
…With a butter knife?
KEVIN has only a feigned relief. RACHEL takes a bite of buttered bread.
RACHEL (CTD)
Everything's fine. We don't
need to mention this again.
KEVIN
I won't tell the Commander
if you give me the same favor.
RACHEL
Fine. This poor wretch.
A pity she was born.
KEVIN
Go back to sleep.
THE NEXT DAY - DAWN
S.O.S.
An aircraft zooms across the screen in almost a wipe with the roaring JTOL jets echoing in the deserted streets of the city. SHANE comes out of his bedroom, passes the others sleeping and goes out onto the veranda to look at the sunrise with the sound of the jet passing by in the distance. He steels his confidence knowing that he can be relied on for this dire moment.
LOW EARTH ORBIT
From the distance the angel comes out from behind the horizon of the earth, and it's wings move forward. It creates a repulsion wave of AT fields to begin its deceleration and descent.
INT – BASE - LATER
AMANDA slams her folder on the main briefing console.
AMANDA
I want my JTOL!
RACHEL massages her temples. SONYA oversees the deployment on screen the bridge crew of VANCE, JEFF and AUTUMN are also present.
RACHEL
We only have one, Amanda.
AMANDA
You're using it now, I might
need it.
RACHEL
I won't release it without
command-
SONYA
What does she want?
RACHEL
She wants JTOL rockets
for her EVA.
SONYA
Then give them to her.
RACHEL
Major, without the commanders'
clearance-
SONYA (calling)
Jeff, We're mounting the JTOL rockets
on the Beta unit.
JEFF
I'll send the orders in right
away.
JEFF leaves, RACHEL slouches.
RACHEL
Christ. That's just extra weight.
We're trying to maximize speed
here.
AMANDA
What's faster than a rocket?
RACHEL
They are single burn. You get
one shot.
AMANDA
You mean like everything else in
this entire fucking operation!?
Noted.
SHANE
How much time do we have?
SONYA
Impact will be in two and a half
hours. Transit will be about an
hour. Then you'll be on standby
until launch.
ZERA
Still no word from the commander?
SONYA
We're on our own, everyone. Even
the present command staff might not be fast
enough to feed you intel so we will
be radio silent and your instructions
will come straight from the MAGI.
The weight of much of the world is
on this one and I don't have complete
confidence in those giant hunks of
metal out there but I believe in you.
You three are the last things I'm worried
about. Move out.
SHANE, ZERA AMANDA
Yes, ma'am!
INT – SERVICE ELEVATOR
AMANDA, SHANE and ZERA ride the elevator to their launch platform. lights pass before them behind the chain link gate of the platform.
AMANDA
You upset that I stole the show
at breakfast?
SHANE
A little but whatever. I don't
really know how to deal with
praise anyway.
AMANDA
Whoever catches it gets to
request any favor they want
from the other two.
SHANE
Anything?
AMANDA
Well, within reason.
SHANE
Why do you pilot, Amanda?
AMANDA
Because the world needs to know
what I can do.
SHANE
You want to prove your existence.
AMANDA
Every second someone dies, and
every second someone gets forgotten
forever. You want to end up like
that?
SHANE
I never thought about it.
AMANDA
Sadly it will happen to everybody.
One day, even this will be
forgotten. Look upon my works, ye
mighty and despair. How about top
notch over there? Has she told you
why she pilots?
SHANE
Yeah she did.
AMANDA
What in secret or something?
SHANE
No. It's not like that. Don't
tease.
AMANDA
So why do you pilot?
SHANE
You could say I had nothing else to do
but as for why? Don't know.
AMANDA
You don't know? What are you, dumb?
SHANE
You know, I might be just that.
AMANDA
You're an idiot, alright.
The Elevator clears the top floor and the EVAs are seen lined up and ready for launch in the distance.
AUTUMN (V.O.)
The angel has been spotted on
approach vector. All hands
ready.
The children walk the platform, enter their plugs. Before the lids close, ZERA speaks up.
ZERA
Hey.
AMANDA and SHANE snap to attention.
ZERA (CTD)
No matter what we think of each
other, I feel the same as the
major. You are the only people
I would trust with this. Good
luck.
AMANDA gives her the thumbs up.
SHANE
Thank you.
The lids close, the plugs activate and each EVA is launched out of High speed tunnels to their destination.
SPACE
The angel breaks the atmosphere.
BRIDGE
SONYA, RACHEL, AUTUMN, VANCE and JEFF are in their command positions.
SONYA
You guys know the last flight
out of her left five hours ago
right?
VANCE
This is where we belong, Ma'am.
JEFF
Yeah. Who would we be if we ran
when a bunch of kids held the
front line.
SONYA
Don't worry about the pilots.
The AT fields of the EVAs will
protect them no matter what.
RACHEL
I guess we just sit back and-
S.O.S.
An alarm goes off on the bridge. NERV employees throw their eys up as the flashing red lights wash their stations in terrifying crimson. In his office, KEVIN is standing up at his desk.
KEVIN
No. Not now. That's insanity.
BRIDGE
SONYA
What's going on?
RACHEL rushes to her console.
RACHEL
Mole program! It's trying to
firewall the MAGI. If they cut
off the communication between
the CPUs the whole thing will
shut down.
SONYA
How were we hacked? That's
impossible.
RACHEL
This must have been the reason
for the blackout. They infiltrated
an attack program during the
restart. Whatever. We have to
deal with it.
SONYA
If the MAGI are offline then the
EVAs' instructions-
RACHEL
I know. Don't freak out.
Autumn!
AUTUMN types frantically at the console.
AUTUMN
I'm sending over a command
prompt. It should tell you
what the program is doing.
RACHEL rolls up her sleeves.
RACHEL
How long until operation launch?
SONYA
Sixteen minutes.
RACHEL
Give me fiifteen.
SONYA
Just one minute?
RACHEL
I keep my promises.
RACHEL scans the command prompt as she types an antidote program. SONYA looks up at the main command screen. She watches as the corrupting program chews its way into Balthazar and into Mechior. The next screen over shows the planned trajectory of the angel with the blinking text "TARGET LOST". Tight shot of SONYA as she realizes she has lost control of the situation.
STARY NIGHT SKY
SONYA (V.O.)
I never liked my father, Shane.
Even now I don't have anything good
to say about him.
The camera pans down and the image is of SONYA and SHANE at the overlook two nights before.
SONYA (CTD)
He neglected mom and always had a
bullshit excuse for doing it.
Mom would cry long into the night and
he shrugged it off…until the divorce.
God, his face. I'll never forget it.
For once in his life had nothing
to say. I asked him 'well?' just
like that. Then I laughed and left
the room. I felt so good because I
hated him.
SHANE
Really?
SONYA
Yeah. You know how it feels, right?
To hate your father?
SHANE
I guess. Yes.
SONYA
He saved my life. He could have
saved himself, but he saved me in
second impact. When my father died
I didn't know how I felt about him
but I vowed revenge on the Angels.
That's why I'm here, why I joined
NERV. I made my choice and no
matter what happened I never
stopped. Even if I did hate my father
even if I do now, this scar is upon me
and I will have revenge. Even in the
face of this I will not stop how about
you? Will you run away now?
SONYA turns to face SHANE tight shot on his face.
SHANE
No I won't.
EVA UNIT ALPHA – COCKPIT – DAY
Tight shot on SHANE, now ready for the offensive steels himself for the conflict.
SHANE
I will not run away.
SHANE sighs and preps for launch. He cues up a song on the EVA's hud.
Soundtrack: - F.O.D. by Green Day
The EVA's HUD highlights the incoming angel. SHANE activates his comm. A "SOUND ONLY" window opens on his view screen.
SHANE (CTD)
I have visual. We're just under
a minute to launch and still no contact with
the MAGI.
AMANDA
Probably still crunching numbers.
They'll let us know. What's that
song?
SHANE
Green Day.
AMANDA
Patch it in.
SHANE
OK. Zera?
ZERA
Sure.
S.O.S.
SHANE patches in the song to the Beta and Omega unit. They nod their heads, nervously as the catapults elevate to launch angle. All other audio is muted, so the song has no audio competition. Cut to the base where RACHEL and AUTUMN frantically reprogram the MAGI. SONYA is on her intercom, calling something down to JEFF and VANCE who are typing on their consoles. CUT back to SHANE who is nodding with the music, getting in the zone. AMANDA in her unit smiles and ZERA checks her systems before refocusing on the launch. The catapults of the launchers angle up and lock into place, ready to fire the EVAs. CUT back to RACHEL and AUTUMN who encode the antidote program. SONYA looks up at the MAGI contamination and CASPAR is about to be 100% taken over. With just one pixel of contamination remaining, SONY turns to RACHEL who hits the return key and gives the thumbs up. SONYA looks back up to the screen and the entire contamination of the MAGI is flooded away. The tactical screens go green which read "TARGET ACQUIRED" and depicts the path of the angel. Cut to the pilots being simultaneously launched and each one is weightless and in the air as the acoustic segment peaks and Billie Joe sings "My belly's aching out to say…"
The foot of Alpha comes crashing into the ground as the electric guitar kicks in and SHANE sends the EVA into a full on sprint. The other EVAs are on convergence. ALPHA leaps into the ait. CUT to Omega unit clearing over a ridge side. CUT to a reverse of BETA unit landing after jumping a power line. The EVAs frantically converge on the target. SHANE looks into the sky, seeing the approaching angel and its' rapidly decreasing altitude. SHANE is running directly under the angel.
SHANE
I got it! I got it! I got it!
Alpha unit spreads its' hands while running full sprint and expands an AT field that plows through the ground and raises it above its head as it skids on both heels, leaning back hard. A spear of Longinus, a helix-shaped organism piercing weapon splits through the AT field and pins Alpha unit in place. Undeterred, SHANE forces the unit to throw up its hands and reform the AT field. The angel smashes into the surface and SHANE screams at it defiantly. From one direction Omega and Beta unit converge.
AMANDA
Zera! Cut into it's AT field.
Get me in there.
OMEGA unit activates its prog knife and cuts the AT field like a skein as Beta unit jumps through the cut. AMANDA screams as she activates her own knife and activates the rockets on the JATO. Beta it roars into speed and AMANDA barges it directly to the center eye and slices through ferociously. The angel screams and recoils as BETA unit tumbles into the hilly earth, leaving a streak of destruction. The angel rises into the sky and explodes in a fireball that illuminates the earth and gathers into an ominous could that begins to rain. SHANE clutches the wounded side as the rain falls upon his EVA. ALL the EVAs shut down.
SOUNDTRACK: ALICE IN CHAINS – I STAY AWAY
As the credits role, the pilots emerge from their EVAs. AMANDA laughs in disbelief and triumph, crossing her arms over her forehead and laughing in hysterics. ZERA emerges from her unit still unable to cope with the amount of adrenaline that courses in her veins. SHANE pops open the lid and as the LCL dumps he rises, attaches a rappelling rope to a steel eye on the inside of the plug before descending to the ground below. The female pilots join with him. AMANDA puts her forehead against his, with a snarling face of victory. SHANE waves in ZERA and the three of them embrace and go to their knees in a huddle in the rain. As the chorus hits the three of them walk away from the EVAs in a line, rain pouring in slow motion. You know. That shot.
A van picks up the PILOTs and they return to headquarters. They walk through the halls of NERV to applause and treated as though they are returning astronauts. SONYA greets them in the command bridge with a smile. The song ends.
JEFF (offscreen)
Ma'am, the carrier has
cleared Panama. Commander
winters is calling in.
SONYA
Patch him through.
A "SOUND ONLY" screen appears on a nearby monitor.
SONYA(CTD)
Commander, while the operation was
a success Alpha unit suffered
substantial armor damage. I take
full responsibility.
WINTERS (V.O.)
Given the nature of this attack
the repairs to Alpha are a
negligible consequence. What is
the status of the projectile that
pierced the EVA?
SONYA
The committee declared the artifact
a matter of national security. After
it was extracted its custody changed
hands. I was outranked and could not
maintain rights.
WINTERS (V.O.)
Well, maybe you should have been
promoted to colonel.
SONYA
Yes sir.
EARL (V.O.)
Well done, Major Quinones. Also
is the Alpha unit pilot present?
SONYA
He's right here, sir.
SHANE
Father?
EARL (V.O.)
I've read the report. I don't
even have the worlds for your
performance. Above and beyond
and then some. Excellent work,
Shane.
SHANE
Oh. Thanks.
EARL (V.O.)
I will leave the rest to you.
We will return in two days.
Goodbye.
The video feed cuts off and AMANDA turns to SONYA.
AMANDA
Now you have to treat us to
dinner.
ZERA is about to walk away but AMANDA takes her wrist.
SONYA
You better believe it.
I'm breaking the bank open for
this one. I just hope wherever
you want to go they have the
finest champagne and the freshest
steak. I really feel like
celebrating now.
AMANDA
Well, I wasn't thinking anything
so gaudy.
ESTABLISHING SHOT - EXT – INDIAN GARDEN RESTAURANT – NIGHT
INT – INDIAN RESTAURANT
In street clothes SONYA, SHANE, ZERA and AMANDA sit on their knees on floor pads at a kneeling dinner table. The pilots drink soda, while SONYA is already on her third beer. A blonde waiter enters with Trays.
WAITER
Garlic Naan for the table, for the
Madam, Curry Okra, The young sir,
Tandori Eggplant, for the young miss
mild tofu curry and for the other
young miss Indian style buffalo
tip skewers with rice. Enjoy.
The cast eats for a moment but then SHANE speaks up.
SHANE
Well, I caught the angel, so I
get to make a request don't I?
AMANDA
Hey, I killed it.
SHANE
We all made a deal, Amanda.
AMANDA
Christ. Fuck.
SHANE
Amanda, sing a song in German.
AMANDA
Oh, go to hell.
SHANE
A deal's a deal.
AMANDA
You're such a jerk.
SHANE
Please.
AMANDA
One verse.
SHANE
OK.
AMANDA stands and lightly clears her throat before taking a drink of water to sing.
AMANDA
Wei hat der Sturn zerrissen
Des Himmels graues Kleid!
Die Wolkenfetzen flattern
Umher in mattem Streit.
Umher in mattem Streit.
AMANDA sits, embarrassed but the crowd does applaud.
SHANE
Beautiful.
AMANDA
Now it's Zeras' turn.
SHANE
She didn't agree to this.
AMANDA
Don't care. She was there
and she didn't object. Make
your request to her.
ZERA locks eyes with SHANE.
SHANE
Uh…Do you like any movies?
AMANDA
Are you serious!?
SHANE
It just came out.
ZERA
The commander and I watched
a film called Solaris. It was
about a widower realizing what he
had lost by having his deepest
desire fulfilled, to see his dead wife
once more. By the end he
understands eternal loss.
SHANE
Wow. OK.
ZERA
You could see it in his eyes.
He understands.
AMANDA
My god. Are you alright?
ZERA
Tragic, but it stated perfectly
something that I cannot even
put into words.
SHANE
Did my father like the movie?
ZERA
He said it reminds him of-
You'll have to ask him.
ZERA resumes eating. After a moment SONYA speaks up.
SONYA
Well?
SHANE
Well what?
SONYA
What about me?
SHANE
What about you?
SONYA
What's your request for me?
SHANE
What?
SONYA
Come on.
SHANE
No, it was a team thing.
SONYA
I'm not part of the team?
SHANE
Eva pilots.
SONYA
Meanie.
SHANE
OK. Tell me the story of
your cross pendant you wear
so often.
CLOSE UP of SONYA. She flashes back to opening the hatch of the pod at second impact, seeing the pillars of light beyond the melting ice and tumbling glaciers of Antarctica, and opening her hand to look at the pendant.
SONYA
It was a gift from my father.
SHANE
Yeah? Even after everything it
means a lot to you, right?
SONYA
Absolutely.
SHANE
I feel that way about my fathers'
words today. If he wants me here
and if he praises what I do, then
I'll be here for him. That's why
I pilot. I want his approval.
I want to earn it and I know
I can do it.
AMANDA
That's why you're piloting?
Shane the shame You are a total
idiot.
SHANE still smiles through it all.
TITLE
To be continued…
END