Deep Rising
Deep Rising
formerly known as TENTACLE
by Steven Sommers & Robert Mark Kamen
extended revisions by Robert Mark Kamen
Revised Draft Jan. 1st, 1996
OPEN TO:
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING rips the HOLLYWOOD PICTURES LOGO away,
and we find ourselves in the middle of...
1 STORMY SEA - NIGHT 1
SUPERIMPOSED: SOUTH CHINA SEA
The dark blue waters roil and boil and foam. THUNDER CRACKS.
LIGHTING FLASHES.
CUT TO:
2 UNDERWATER - NIGHT 2
An enormous Japanese BATHYSCAPHE free-falls through the
water. An autonomous fifteen-man submersible. Almost
futuristic in its design. The nose cone is an amazing ultra
high-pressure plexi-dome. LETTERING along the side tells us
this is the "SHINKAI 90000."
COMPUTER PRINTED across the SCREEN are the WORDS:
ASSIGNMENT: GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION.
SUB-OCEANIC SEISMIC RESEARCH.
TECTONIC PLATE SURVEILLANCE.
ADDENDUM: ABOUT TO BREAK THE WORLD'S RECORD
FOR THE DEEPEST DIVE...
3 SHINKAI 9000 - NIGHT 3
The JAPANESE CAPTAIN watches a DLD laser tracking system and
barks one-word questions to his JAPANESE CREW. The Sailors
work the consoles and give clipped monosyllabic answers. The
JAPANESE SCIENCE OFFICERS go over charts on the electronic
position board, a contiuously-shifting graphic representation
of the ocean contours below. Behind them is an elaborate
DEPTH GAUGE with computerized graphics. READ: 34,000 feet and
dropping. The Crew works at a fevered pitch. An ALARM SOUNDS
as the depth gauge sounds 35,000 feet. All eyes on the depth
gauge. Several Science Officers share excited looks.
4 ON THE DEPTH GAUGE: 35,100 -- 35,200 -- 35,300 -- 35,400...4
The excitement builds. Even the Captain's weathered eyes
widen. And then, as the depth gauge hits 35,801 feet below
sea level, the entire Crew breaks into CHEERS, WHOOPS,
HANDSHAKES AND HIGH-FIVES.
CUT TO:
5 SHINKAI 9000 - NIGHT 5
As it continues its descent, it passes corroding metal drums
leaking toxic waste, radioactive waste, dumped in the depths,
away from prying eyes, and populated areas. The vessel drops
into the SULU BASIN. Imagine the Grand Canyon under forty
thousand feet of water.
But the Sulu Basin is ten times the size of the Grand Canyon.
Down here, ten thousand fathoms below the storm, all is calm.
The dual TURBO-PROPS on the ear of the submersible KICK ON.
The Bathysaphe is now mobile. It glides down the side of an
enormous rock face, carefully avoiding massive sandstone
pinnacles which jut up from the ocean floor far below.
DISSOLVE TO:
6 DEEP SEA - NIGHT 6
THE SHINKAI hovers near a gigantic tectonic plate. A ROBOTIC
ARM extends out from under the plexi-dome. Its "hand" is a
high-tech LASER CUTTER. It approaches the plate, steadies,
then fires a direct BLUE BEAM at the bedrock, burns the rock
into magma and cuts a perfect round pattern.
Another ROBOTIC ARM reaches forward, its CLAW rips out the
cut rock from inside the pattern, then takes the sample and
sets it inside a hydro-basket on the submersible's port side.
DISSOLVE TO:
7 MINDINAO DEEP - NIGHT 7
A desolate, barren, spooky place. Nothing breathes. Nothing
lives. Or so it would appear. The creepy, foreboding MUSICAL
SCORE tells us otherwise. The Shinkai ENTERS a huge ROCK
FISSURE.
CUT TO:
8 SHINKAI 9000 - NIGHT 8
The Captain and the Science Officers stare through the plexi
dome and out into the freezing, cobalt blue of the PALAWAN
TROUGH. The MUSIC intensifies as they round each curve. Then,
dead ahead, is the end of the trough, which is half-blocked
by a rock-encrusted embankment.
The MUSIC builds.
The Shinkai approaches the embankment. Slowly starts to glide
up the side. The Captain and Science Officers seem mesmerized
by all the lonely creepiness. They crest the embankment. And
the plexi-domed VIEW FILLS with an unimaginable horror.
As far as the eye can see, the entire murky landscape is
filled with WHALE BONES. A valley of death. Cluttered here
and there, carelessly flung about, are the rusting hulks of
several ships. Seemingly ripped apart. Clusters of shark
cartilage float through the water like white ghosts.
The Captain, the Science Officers and the entire Crew just
stare, frozen in place by the strange horror before them.
CUT TO:
9 SHINKAI 9000 - NIGHT 9
The vessel cruises through the valley of death. Everyone is
nervously taking readings, making calculations and adjusting
equipment.
Gone is the excitement and euphoria of the record breaking.
Several Crewmen cast nervous glances out through the plexi
dome. Giant skeletons everywhere.
CUT TO:
10 SHINKAI 9000 - NIGHT 10
The Shinkai approaches an eerie-looking rock formation. The
robotic arm comes out. The laser cutter steadies, aims, then
shoots out its blue beam and cuts into the rock.
WHOOSH!! A HUGE JET STREAM OF INKY BLOOD BLASTS OUT OF THE
FORMATION!
CUT TO:
11 SHNKAI 9000 - NIGHT 11
The Captain and the Science Officers recoil as the inky stuff
envelopes the plexi-dome, completely blotting out the VIEW.
CUT TO:
12 PALAWAN TROUGH - NIGHT 12
The Shinkai VANISHES into a huge cloud of inky blood. We HOLD
for a LONG OMINOUS BEAT. And then, like a slow-motion
earthquake, large boulders and giant crevices begin to shift
in the murky waters. WHALE BONES TOPPLE and SCATTER. Several
feet under the ancient silt, something is coming alive.
CUT TO:
13 SHINKAI 9000 - NIGHT 13
Everything outside the plexi-dome is still BLACK. Everyone is
staring at the position board, which shows a large section of
the OCEAN FLOOR STARTING TO MOVE, its contours incongruous
with the rest of the graphic representation.
The Science Officers look stunned. The Captain barks
commands. The Crew leaps into high gear.
Then the Captain reverses the trottle, and petal-to-the-metal
he starts to back out.
The inky blood swirls past the plexi-dome. Then suddenly, and
impossibly, the SUBMERSIBLE JERKS TO A HALT. Everybody goes
ass-over-teacups. EQUIPMENT SHATTERS. SPARKS FLY. GLASS
BREAKS. Lots of YELLING in Japanese.
The SHINKAI starts to ROCK and SHAKE. Something has a hold on
it. More EQUIPMENT SHATTERS. Men are thrown about. Then it
stops rocking. The Sailors stop yelling. Everything goes dead
quiet. Frightened eyes share terror-filled looks. A SOUND is
HEARD coming from the exterior of the ship, like feet runing
across the outside of the hull. Very creepy.
The HULL starts to MOAN and CREAK from an UNSEEN PRESSURE.
And then the sub begins to be crushed like it's a beer can.
The metal HULL TORQUES on all sides. RIVETS POP and SNAP.
WATER SPRAYS and SHOOTS. More SPARKS FLY. The STEEL PLATING
DIMPLES, CRUMBLES and SCREAMS in agony. CHAOS. PANDEMONIUM.
And then the SHINKAI IMPLODES. A massive CHURNING SWIRL of
water, metal and men.
SMASH CUT TO:
14 SOUTH CHINA SEA - SUNSET 14
THE SAIPAN, a tricked out Jet Foil, built for speed not
looks, gunmetal blue, lean and mean, rips across the choppy
water. The Rolling Stones STREETFIGHTING MAN pours out of the
jet foil, reverberating over the waves, as the CAMERA rushes
right at the windsheild and into...
CUT TO:
15 PILOT HOUSE - SUNSET 15
Stripped down, low frills, high tech... ...where JOHN T.
FINNEGAN, bathed in the last light of day, all taut muscle
and sinew, all business, with every one of his 38 years
etched on his rugged, good looking face, is harnessed into
the steering pylon, wrestling with his steering-sticks,
holding the bouncing jetfoil steady as he can, hauling ass,
propelled, it seems, by the music blasting out of four state
of the art speakers bolted to the metal walls. Light from the
laser imagers plays across Finnegan's face. The face of a man
in his element, on the edge, in control. He barks commands
into his RADIO HEADSET.
FINNEGAN
How we doing out there?
THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD we see LEILA, a muscular Filipina
clambering over the foredeck. She's dripping wet. Tough as
nails. She turns to Finnegan and "mouths" something into her
headset. Finnegan flashes her his most charming smile.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
Yes, I'm very warm and dry in here,
thank you for your concern.
His HEADSET comes alive withe the SOUND of LEILA bitching in
an unintelligible foreign tongue.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
A raise? I already pay you two
bucks a day.
He watches as Leila fights the WIND and SEASPRAY and dogs
tight a series of hatch-latches across the foredeck.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
Missed one darling.
Leila turns and gives him a "jerking-off" sign with her hand.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
I love you too.
The Radar Imager suddenly blinks, and goes to black. Dead.
Finnegan taps on the screen. Nothing. Taps on the console.
Still nothing. Simultaneously two more imagers shut down. His
mouth screws tight.
CUT TO:
16 ENGINE ROOM - NIGHT 16
Crammed wall to wall with enough horsepower to fly a 747.
Pumped out of two thumping engines. The domain of a scruffy,
shifty-eyed, likeable little weasel of a mechanical
genius...JOEY PANTUCCI.
Wearing a mechanic's toolbelt, slung sideways across the hips
like a gunslinger, singing the theme to "Gilligan's Island"
over the engine's roar. Way off-key. His hands crammed deep
in a tangle of wires. On the walls are a few pictures: Of a
few major league engines. Of a few major league pinups, and a
few of Pantucci and Finnegan...together in the U.S. Navy...in
front of the Saipan in shinier days.
PANTUCCI
(singing)
" -- if not for the courage of the
fearless crew -- "
He tugs at the wires.
PANTUCCI (CONT'D)
" -- the Minnow would be lost, the
Minowwww would be lost."
Finnegan's voice explodes through his headset...
FINNEGAN (V.O.)
(radio filtered)
PANTUCCI!!
Unperturbed, Pantucci works at the wires.
PANTUCCI
(into radio)
Can we use our indoor voice
please...
FINNEGAN (V.O.)
(radio filtered)
I'm flying blind here God damn it!
Pantucci pulls two wires from the tangle.
PANTUCCI
You trying to make me feel guilty?
He begins to strip the wires with his teeth.
CUT TO:
17 PILOT HOUSE - SUNSET 17
Finnegan peers out of the windscreen, trying to see ahead of
himself.
FINNEGAN
Guilty will be the least of what
you feel when I run my rig into one
of these god damn no name islands!
Get me well here!
CUT TO:
18 ENGINE ROOM 18
Pantucci twists one wire around another.
PANTUCCI
All better...
19 PILOT HOUSE - SUNSET 19
The console lights up. The screens come back on line.
Finnegan is pleased.
PANTUCCI (V.O.)
Now tell me again...
CUT TO:
20 ENGINE ROOM 20
Pantucci works his wrench around an engine mount. And his
nervous eyes around six men, big, bad men, standing on the
far side of the engines out in a narrow passage.
A Maori(VIVO). Two Aussies(MASON and MULLIGAN). A
Samoan(MAMOOLI). A Chinese(CHIN). And an Aborigine (BILLY).
Tattooed, armed to the teeth, packed in Kevlar body armor.
Mercenaries. Who would as soon wring your neck as shake your
hand. And a sixth man. HANOVER. The obvious leader.
Smoother than the rest, but still showing the edge of a man
risen from their ranks. He consults his watch with a growing
concern.
PANTUCCI
...why we took this job?
CUT TO:
21 PILOT HOUSE - SUNSET 21
Finnegan hits a button on his console. The Stones are
replaced by the first chords of LAYLA.
FINNEGAN
If I told you once...I told you a
thousand times...
CUT TO:
22 ENGINE ROOM 22
PANTUCCI
(rote)
I know...I know...if the cash is
there we don't care...
(nervous)
Finnegan this is as mean a pile of
shit as we ever carried...
Pantucci notices Hanover impatiently looking at his watch
again, and nods for a mass of Aussie mean and muscle named
MASON to follow him up a ladder.
PANTUCCI (CONT'D)
...and some of it's coming your
way.
He quickly pulls out a wrench, slaps it over a bolt and
tightens it down. The leak stops. He blows on the WRENCH like
it's a six-shooter, then spins it at the speed of light and
holsters it into his toolbelt.
CUT TO:
23 PILOT HOUSE - SUNSET 23
As Finnegan is watching the sea ahead, swathed in the
shrieking Clapton guitar solos, the hatch opens.
Hanover enters, followed by Mason, who leaves the hatch door
ajar.
Finnegan's eyes remain fixed on the sea. His ears on the
Clapton.
Hanover and Mason hold onto any available rail as the boat
slams over the waves.
HANOVER
You remember the first time we met
Finnegan? I think you were just
starting out...smuggling gold off
Sumatra for those two
Chinese...what did we use to call
them?
FINNEGAN
Fok Yu and Fok Yu Two...are we
strolling down memory lane for any
particular reason?
HANOVER
No, it just struck me as odd...I
don't see you for all these years
and you've still got the same tape
stuck in the box.
FINNEGAN
You know what they say...the
classics are eternal.
Hanover looks at the Topo Imager. Holding onto the rail to
keep his balance as the boat slams over the choppy sea.
HANOVER
So where are we?
Finnegan points to a spot in the middle of the map.
FINNEGAN
Right here...middle of nowhere...
HANOVER
And where is our point of arrival?
Finnegan points to another spot on the map.
FINNEGAN
Right here...middle of
nowhere...and the answer to your
question is yes.
HANOVER
Which question is that?
FINNEGAN
The one you came up to ask...are we
on schedule?
HANOVER
(to Mason)
Take note Mr. Mason...this is why
you hire a professional...No
whining. No excuses.
MASON
(attitude)
I've heard a lot of stories about
you mate...
FINNEGAN
All of them flattering I'm sure.
MASON
They were...but they musta been
talking about another Finnegan...
because the one I heard about was
as rough as they came...the one I'm
looking at is, well, about as
current as the music.
HANOVER
Don't mind him Finnegan...you
remember 25...balls of steel...
splashing around in a sea of
testosterone.
FINNEGAN
I don't mind him...but I do think
it's time for him to get back down
below with the rest of the
playgroup.
MASON
And who's gonna make me?
Finnegan looks at Mason...at the open hatchway just behind
him...
FINNEGAN
The Finnegan you heard about.
...and jams the steering sticks full speed ahead. The force
of acceleration tumbles Hanover into the console. Mason
tumbles out the open hatchway, down the stairs behind him. As
he rises, Hanover regards Finnegan for a moment. A smile
flits across his face.
HANOVER
That's why we're sill around
Finnegan...you and me... Nothing
gets the feathers up. Business is
business. Eh?
Finnegan's hand finds the console. He hits a button. The
first strains of Led Zepplin's WHOLE LOTTA LOVE comes roaring
out of the speakers.
FINNEGAN
And the classics are eternal.
Finnegan cranks the sound to the max, pulls back on both
steer sticks, and holds on, as the force of acceleration
hammers him into the pylon.
CUT TO:
24 OPEN SEA - SUNSET 24
The Saipan roars off into the setting sun, hell bent for
leather. Zepplin screaming in its wake.
CUT TO:
25 SOUTH CHINA SEA - NIGHT 25
Sailing through the mild waters of the South China Sea, a
luxury cruise liner. The FUJI MARU. Top of the line. State of
the art. And absolutely MASSIVE. No expense has been spared.
Breathtaking. Gunfire shatters the serenity of the night.
CUT TO:
26 FUJI MARU DECK - NIGHT 26
A group of tony British passengers is shooting skeet. Being
night, the CLAY PIGEONS are glow-in-the-dark. They EXPLODE
over the WATERSPORTS PLATFORM, where TWO JET SKIS swing from
harnesses, and TWO SPEEDBOATS are being hoisted up the side.
CUT TO:
27 CRYSTAL POOL DECK - NIGHT 27
Rigged for a formal party. Chinese lanterns sway in the
breeze. A band plays. Hundreds of wealthy Passengers, the men
in tuxedos, the women in drop dead gowns, dripping with
jewelry, dance, flirt, gossip, as an endless stream of
waiters ply the floor with champagne laden trays.
CLOSE ON: The sexiest pair of spiked heels ever to grace the
foot of a woman, stopping at the top of the deck. PAN UP: A
shimmering golden gown, high slit on the sides to reveal a
perfect set of legs, a runway model's body, a cover girl's
face...and a thief's sharp ferret eyes. TRILLIAN. A class act
from top to bottom. A head turner for either sex, and knows
it. She holds an orchid in her hand. Trillian scans the
crowd, looking for her prey...and finds him. Her POV. The
Ship's smug Captain. JEAN BAPTISTE DELCROIX. She fixes the
orchid in her hair just so, about to move...
OLD WOMAN
He said an orchid and a beautiful
woman belonged together... It was
our first date.
Trillian looks down to a petite old woman, dressed
impeccably, delicate, frail, her beauty long faded except
from her eyes. Kindness becomes her, like moonlight does the
night.
OLD WOMAN (CONT'D)
He said that it was the orchid I
wore that made him fall in love
with me...
TRILLIAN
He sounds like a real gentleman.
OLD WOMAN
The best of the best he was... This
cruise was supposed to be our 60th
anniversary gift to each other. He
died last Spring...
TRILLIAN
I'm so sorry...
OLD WOMAN
I was going to wear one...special
for him...like a memory...
The Old Woman looks at the orchid. And then at Trillian.
OLD WOMAN (CONT'D)
But without him here I don't know
why I should.
Trillian takes the orchid from her hair, and places it in the
lapel of the woman's jacket.
TRILLIAN
Because an orchid and a beautiful
woman belong together.
The smile Trillian bestows on the old woman is loving,
sincere. The moment between them is broken by the keen clear
sound of a silver spoon tapping a crystal champagne flute.
CANTON (V.O.)
Ladies and gentlemen...
ANGLE ON: The deck where the band stops playing. Voices hush.
Everyone turns to NIGEL CANTON, 65, tall, elegant, every
white hair perfectly in place, impeccably turned out, with
the energy, and enthusiasm of a man half his age. Canton
stands at the head of the pool, in front of a wall sized
aquarium, flanked by his Captain.
CANTON (CONT'D)
All my life I had the dream of
building the greatest pleasure ship
ever to sail the seven seas...
tonight, seeing all of you
here...so elegant...so
beautiful...so rich...
The crowd roars with laughter.
CANTON (CONT'D)
I realize my dream has come
true...I thank you all from the
bottom of my heart for making it
so...
Canton lifts his glass.
CANTON (CONT'D)
To the Fuji Maru! Good times
forever!
CROWD
Forever!! Here! Here!
The crowd swells around Canton. ANGLE ON: The Captain
chatting up some passengers when a woman's voice, seductive,
beguiling, turns his head to...
TRILLIAN
(French)
Is it true what they say about a
captain and his boat.
The Captain's libido rises as he gazes into Trillian's come
hither eyes.
CAPTAIN
Is what true madame?
Trillian takes one step closer, until her moist lips are
pursed inches from the captain's.
TRILLIAN
(French)
Madamoiselle...that the bigger the
boat...the bigger the man...
His breath catches.
CAPTAIN
It is a theory I would be glad to
put to the test.
Trillian draws even closer. If looks could cause a man to
climax.
TRILLIAN
(French)
In school, the Sisters said testing
was my specialty.
PASSENGER
Captain...
Driven to distraction, The Captain turns his attention for a
moment to a passenger introducing his wife.
PASSENGER (CONT'D)
My wife...
CAPTAIN
Enchante...
ANGLE ON: Trillian, turning from the captain into the crowd.
C.U. on her hand by the side of her dress. A man's wallet
held surreptitiously. Her fingers open the wallet, extract a
thin gold card with a black stripe. She discards the wallet,
keeps the card, and disappears into the crowd.
CUT TO:
28 FUJI MARU BRIDGE - NIGHT 28
Top of the line. State of the art. The crew is multinational.
English is the common language, but everyone has an accent.
Canton, the picture of self-satisfaction, enters, sipping
champagne.
CANTON
You wanted to see me Captain?
The Captain stands next to a bank of LASER IMAGING SYSTEMS.
Canton steps up. Looks down at the THERMAL RADAR IMAGER.
Multi-colored LASER IMAGES.
CAPTAIN
We have a storm rising behind us...
we may have to close the canopy, I
hope it doesn't ruin your party.
CANTON
(self-satisfied)
Ruin my party? Captain, this ship
was built to withstand a typhoon. I
can't imagine there's anything on
the sea today that could possibly
ruin my party.
SMASH CUT TO:
29 JETFOIL - NIGHT 29
C.U. A crowbar quietly pops the top off a wooden crate to
reveal the lethal looking tip of a torpedo...PULL BACK TO:
Pantucci in the storage hold, surrounded by half a dozen
crates, his wily eyes popped wide with apprehension. He licks
his lips nervously, looks around and whispers into his
headset.
PANTUCCI
(whispers)
Finnegan...Finnegan...
A hand falls on his shoulder, spinning him around to a fist
coming right into his face.
CUT TO:
30 PILOT HOUSE - NIGHT 30
Jimi Hendrix. THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER. Blasting. As the Jet
foil rockets across the waves. Leila, stripped out of her
soaking wet clothes, down to her panties and bra, stands
wiping her dripping wet, magnificently ripped body, with a
dry towel. Leila puts her fingers in her ears.
LEILA
Gum kwa she bam dok.
FINNEGAN
It's not noise...it's genius...
And then over the headset, over the Hendrix...
PANTUCCI (V.O.)
FINNEGANNNN!!
Followed by the unmistakable sound of fist hitting flesh.
Finnegan and Leila trade a look.
CUT TO:
31 HOLD - NIGHT 31
A massive fist plows into Pantucci's stomach. He drops from
the arms of MULLIGAN, a scar-faced Irishman with a buzz cut.
As quickly as he is doubled over he is yanked up straight by
the man who hit him, VIVO, a merciless Maori, covered by
tattoos, topped off with venom.
MULLIGAN
You know what my goal is? Before I
die I want to make love to a woman
from every country on earth.
VIVO
You mean countries that are
acknowledged by the UN...or like
made up countries too?
MULLIGAN
What the hell does that mean?
VIVO
Like Mamooli's country...
MAMOOLI
What you talkin'? Samoa's a county!
VIVO
It's a dot on a map...
MULLIGAN
Map...no map...I don't give a shit
...they got women on Samoa, it's on
the list.
HANOVER
Mr. Billy you're in the batter's
box.
Hanover watches calmly as BILLY, the Aborigine, cracks his
fist against the side of Pantucci's head, knocking him out of
Vivo's arms.
BILLY
At home we denosy the nosy.
BILLY hoists Pantucci. He draws his knife under Pantucci's
bloody nose.
HANOVER
We're not savage here Mr. Billy...
we're professionals. Hold him...Mr.
Chin...
The Chinese merc steps forward, and whaps Pantucci upside the
head with a cruelly accurate crescent kick. Pantucci hits the
wall hard, crumbling. Chin lifts him.
HANOVER (CONT'D)
Anyone else?
Massive Mason steps forward.
MASON
I'll take a go and the I vote we
throw the little weasel
overboard...
MULLIGAN
I vote we slit his throat THEN
throw him overboard...
Mason raises his ham of a fist drawing his tree trunk arm
back, taking dead aim at Pantucci's face. He never gets the
punch off. His arm is caught from behind. He looks over his
shoulder to Finnegan. Gripping his wrist. Right in his face.
FINNEGAN
...this is not a democracy. You
don't get a vote.
Mason, enraged, swings with his free hand. Finnegan twists
his arm sharply, sending Mason's head into the steel wall,
knocking the big man senseless. The other mercenaries go to
draw their weapons. Before the guns are out of holsters,
Finnegan swings a spear gun into Hanover's face, an inch from
his eye.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
I'll say it again for the hearing
impaired...
Finnegan cocks the spear. CLICK! Hanover does not blink.
Everyone freezes. With his free hand Finnegan lifts Pantucci
to his unsteady feet, the spear stays poised. Finnegan backs
out of the room.
HANOVER
This isn't right Finnegan. I've got
a contract.
FINNEGAN
(RECITING)
20 hours on the clock. Out and
back. Double for overtime.
HANOVER
And no questions asked.
FINNEGAN
Who asked any?
HANOVER
He did...with a crowbar...you know
the rules on a broken contract.
FINNEGAN
I know it...but you want to get
where you want to get, and back? I
need a chief engineer, and unless
you got a replacement, I'd highly
recommend overlooking the
indiscretion.
With that Finnegan leads Pantucci out of the hold, slamming
the door behind him.
PANTUCCI
Thanks...
Finnegan turns his gaze to Pantucci. It makes the smaller man
quiver.
FINNEGAN
You put me in that position again
I'll throw you overboard myself.
Finnegan stalks off. Pantucci swallows hard, knowing he means
it.
CUT TO:
32 FUJI MARU - NIGHT 32
A man strides down the hall of an executive passageway, his
face obscured in shadows. He has a CANISTER in his hands.
Walks through a door MARKED:
"AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY"
CUT TO:
33 COMPUTER/CONTROL MONITOR ROOM - NIGHT 33
The brain center for the whole ship. Rows of computer
mainframes, laser-guided imagers and D.T. processors. No
humans needed. And none are present. Except one --
The Man strides purposefully down a row of computers, makes a
left, then a right. He knows exactly where he's going. He
arrives at an ultra-high-tech CONSOLE. The cerebellum. Three
similar canisters are plugged into the console. The Man
unscrews the middle canister. Screws his canister into its
place. Sets the TIMER to 0:300 hours. Pushes a button. The
TIMER starts to COUNT DOWN.
CUT TO:
34 THE FUJI MARU - NIGHT 34
All LIT UP and looking beautiful. The wind is stronger. The
party is wilder. The BAND louder. The people drunker. Rain
begins to fall. Everybody moans and heads for cover.
The deck's huge hydralic canopy begins to close, reviving the
party spirit.
CUT TO:
35 VAULT ROOM - NIGHT 35
A gold card with a black stripe slides into the security lock
of a high tech vault. Lights blink. Tumblers roll. One after
another the electronic locks unlock.
Trillian stands back as the massive vault door swings open.
With a quick look over her shoulder, she enters the vault.
CUT TO:
36 VAULT - NIGHT 36
Trillian consults a list, looking for one very specific vault
box.
Finding it, she pulls a lock pick from her fabulous coiffure,
and picks the lock in nothing flat. A pro. Flipping open the
box, Trillian removes the only thing she came for. A dazzling
diamond ring with the center stone the size of an egg. With a
twist, she pops the stone from the setting, holds it up to
admire it in the light...
CANTON (V.O.)
It is an amazing stone...
Trillian grits her teeth, and turns to...Canton, the Captain,
and two burly Chinese security men.
CANTON (CONT'D)
...what were you planning on doing
with it?
TRILLIAN
Retiring.
CANTON
Well you can still proceed with
your plans then...in
prison...Captain... escort the
lady...
Canton exits. The Captain steps forward, and removes the
diamond ring from Trillian's hand.
CAPTAIN
Mademoiselle...you are not a lady.
He slaps her across the face. Trillian flushes, touches the
drop of blood at her lip...and decks the Captain with a
vicious right cross.
TRILLIAN
And you...Monsieur...you are not a
gentleman.
CUT TO:
37 VEGETABLE LOCKER - NIGHT 37
A hatch door bursts open. Trillian is thrown inside. The DOOR
SLAMS SHUT. Trillian looks around. No windows. One door. Lots
of fruit and vegetables.
Trillian accepts the hopelessness of her situation. She takes
an apple, sits down and bites deeply, running her options.
CUT TO:
38 COMPUTER/CONTROL MONITOR ROOM - SAME TIME 38
The CANISTER TIMER finishes counting down -- 4 -- 3 -- 2 --
1. It suddenly EMITS a high-energy HUM. Intense electro
static, which builds into...
CUT TO:
39 SAIPAN PILOT HOUSE - NIGHT 39
...A screeching guitar solo... The Allman Brothers Band
pulses out of the speakers. Finnegan is prepping the wound
over Pantucci's eye for sutures.
As he swabs it carefully, Leila is at the helm keeping the
speeding, bouncing, boat on course.
PANTUCCI
Here's what I think...I think these
mokes below are a hit squad.
FINNEGAN
I saw these guy perform...at
Altmont ...you know that? They
opened for the Stones...
He carefully threads the surgical needle.
PANTUCCI
Right now...there's some bozo
sitting on his yacht at those
coordinates they gave us, sipping
his scotch and soda...totally
unawares that we are about to
deliver 500 kgs of high power
torpedo to light up his
ass...that's what's down there in
that hold and who knows what the
hell else...
CUT TO:
40 HOLD - NIGHT 40
The top of another wooden crate is popped revealing the
answer to Pantucci's question: a chilling display of
firepower. Pulse rifles. Hand held gatling guns with laser
sightings. Oblong grenades. The latest in death delivery
systems.
Hanover and his men lift and load. Slamming shells into
chambers. KA- CHANG! KA-CHANG! KA-CHANG! These boys know
their toys.
CUT TO:
41 PILOT HOUSE - NIGHT 41
FINNEGAN
Hold still now...I was like three
rows back.
Finnegan centers the needle over Pantucci's wound.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
...Jagger was here...I was here...
PANTUCCI
You don't give a shit about
anything do you?
FINNEGAN
Sure I do...I give a shit that at
0300 hour we reach our point of
destination. I give a shit that
those mojos got to do what they got
to do, and 45 minutes later we are
turn around and gone. I give a shit
that by the time the sun comes up
we are all safely tucked in bed.
PANTUCCI
That's it? That's all you give a
shit about?
FINNEGAN
Oh yeah...and that my stitch job
doesn't make you uglier than you
already are...this won't hurt a
bit...
Finnegan sinks the needle into the wound. Pantucci's SCREAM
rises above the music.
CUT TO:
42 FUJI MARU - NIGHT 42
The Fuji Maru cruises through RAIN-LASHED waters. Accompanied
by a very scary MUSICAL SCORE. Then suddenly, in the extreme
foreground, AIR BUBBLES angrily GURGLE to the surface. Then a
WAVE EXPLODES, as if THRASHED from below.
Then another WAVE EXPLODES, forty feet to the right. Then
ANOTHER, eighty feet to the left. And then ALMOST SEEN: Huge,
black, ominous THINGS seem to be SQUIRMING beneath the water.
Heading for the Fuji Maru.
CUT TO:
43 CRYSTAL FOREDECK - NIGHT 43
RAIN PELTS the canopy. LIGHTNING FLASHES. THUNDER RUMBLES. We
can HEAR the PARTY inside. MUSIC, laughs and cheers.
CUT TO:
44 THE BRIDGE - NIGHT 44
The entire ROOM seems to be FRITZING OUT. The lights crackle
on and off. The Captain stands behind the bank of failing
IMAGING SYSTEMS, growing edgier by the moment.
MATE
The entire bridge electrical system
is shutting down sir!
CAPTAIN
Switch over to auxiliary power, and
run a circuit check.
MATE
Yes sir...
The COM. OFFICER is busy fiddling with the communications and
imaging gear. DISTORTED LIGHTS from the scrambled systems
plays off their faces.
COM. OFFICER
We're losing radar and sonar!
FIRST MATE
Communications systems are out sir!
The Captain is confounded, on the edge of panic. Canton
hurries onto the bridge.
CANTON
What the hell is going on?
CAPTAIN
Communication systems have failed!
Radar...sonar...radios...I don't
understand it.
MATE
Maybe it's the storm!
CANTON
Nonsense! We're impervious to
weather!
FIST MATE
We have a main frame meltdown!!
CANTON
Well unmelt it!!
Canton storms out. Every piece of electrical equipment on the
bridge starts to shut down.
SMASH CUT TO:
45 HULL - NIGHT 45
Where the waves meet the hull, A BALLAST HOLE excretes water.
Suddenly, near the ballast hole, a WAVE EXPLODES, thrashed
from below. Accompanied by the scary foreboding MUSIC again.
CUT TO:
46 VEGETABLE STORAGE - NIGHT 46
Trillian, making the best of a bad situation, is just putting
the finishing touches on a wonderful salad culled from the
stores. As she sits down, spreading a makeshift napkin on her
lap just so, a violent SUCKING SOUND comes from above her.
Trillian's eyes shoot upward. A VICIOUS GURGLING SOUND RACES
through a large PIPE along the ceiling. Trillian leaps to her
feet. Backs away. A little spooked.
CUT TO:
47 STATEROOM BATHROOM - NIGHT 47
An elegant woman sits on the toilet, her gown hiked up
inelegantly, reading "Vogue." As she turns the page the same
strange sound, a violent sucking, comes from inside the
walls, startling her. She looks around the room. Can't see
anything. Shrugs it off. Goes back to her magazine. Turns
another page.
A LONG SCARY BEAT.
And then suddenly -- She SHUDDERS VIOLENTLY and gives a sharp
CRY. Her eyes filled panic. She tries to stand, but she's
JERKED BACK DOWN! Her ARMS FLAIL WILDLY.
Scattering stuff off the counter. She tries to SCREAM, but it
comes out more like a GURGLE. Below her, in the TOILET, there
is a hideous SLURPING SOUND. She manages a final, desperate
scream, a high-pitched WAIL.
Which nobody hears because...
CUT TO:
48 POOL DECK - NIGHT 48
...the Band has kicked into another ROCK SONG. The drunken
revelers whoop and holler, dancing with reckless abandon
ignoring the THUNDER and LIGHTNING. And then...with a loud
BASSO PROFUNDO CLANG, the CRUISE LINER JERKS TO A STOP.
EVERYTHING goes CRASH. PEOPLE TUMBLE. TABLES TOPPLE. The
MUSIC STOPS as the entire Band falls into the pool.
CUT TO:
49 VEGETABLE STORAGE - NIGHT 49
Trillian goes ass-over-teacups, rolling over just in time to
see a wall of BOXES CRASHING straight down on her. SMASH!
She's knocked out cold.
CUT TO:
50 WATERSPORT PLATFORM - NIGHT 50
One of the SPEEDBOATS breaks free of its harness. TOPPLES
over the side and drops down into the sea. SPLASH!
CUT TO:
51 POOL DECK - NIGHT 51
Everything goes quiet. Everybody freezes. Panic is a
heartbeat away.
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING lights up the top of the canopy. The
passengers begin to mutter fearfully. From his perch, Canton
fights down his own panic, and addresses the crowd in calm
reassuring tones.
CANTON
Ladies and gentlemen...your
attention please... Ladies and
gentlemen...
The disquieted crowd turns to Canton.
CANTON (CONT'D)
This is the most technologically
advanced sailing vessel on the
water today. Every problem has been
anticipated...the Captain has
assured me that we will be up and
running in no time...so enjoy
yourselves...there's nothing to
worry about...
Suddenly, and quite violently, a WOMAN is SUCKED UNDER THE
WATER -- THWUP! Others swimmers notice and freeze. The Woman
doesn't come back up. And then, THREE more SWIMMERS are
violently JERKED UNDER. All the people in and around the pool
see this and panic. SCREAMING. YELLING. SWIMMING. SWIMMING
and RUNNING. A CRACK OF THUNDER! The Captain calls out --
CAPTAIN
Remain calm! Stop! Do you hear?
REMAIN CALM! The pool clears. Everybody backs the hell away
from it. The WATER in the pool BUBBLES, and GURGLES, and then
goes quiet. And then, from somewhere deep within the bowels
of the ship, comes a loud, eerie, primordial YOWL. WE PUSH IN
ON CANTON: His eyes slowly widen. Stunned. His calm replaced
by pure terror.
CANTON
Dear God.
CUT TO:
52 SOUTH CHINA SEA - NIGHT 52
Off in the distance is the cruiseliner. WE HOLD FOR A LONG,
SILENT, EERIE BEAT. And then the SCREAMING begins...
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
53 SAIPAN - NIGHT 53
Blasting through increasingly stormy seas.
CUT TO:
54 PILOT HOUSE - NIGHT 54
Finnegan notices Billy, Mulligan and Vivo setting two
catapult like devices on the front of the deck.
FINNEGAN
Leila see what they're up to...
Leila exits. Finnegan's eyes go up from the action on deck to
the radar screen, where a blip, fast moving, right toward the
jet foil catches his attention.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
What the hell...
SMASH CUT TO:
55 SAIPAN - NIGHT 55
A FLASH OF LIGHTNING REVEALS -- The speedboat from the Fuji
Maru hurtling at the hull! BAAROOOOM!!! The speedboat slams
into the Saipan. Instant FIREBALL.
ANGLE ON: The mercs and Leila slammed to the deck.
SMASH CUT TO:
56 HOLD - NIGHT 56
A GASH is RIPPED out of the bow. METAL FLIES. WATER SPRAYS.
The new HOLE VOMITS FLAME. Spewing it over the crates.
Hanover and the rest of his men are blown against the walls.
CUT TO:
57 ENGINE ROOM - NIGHT 57
Pantucci DIVES as flying SHRAPNEL PEPPERS the two engines.
Instantly kills one engine. Maims the other. A FIRE starts.
CUT TO:
58 PILOT HOUSE - NIGHT 58
RED WARNING LIGHTS flash and blink. Lighting up the console.
The left steering stick dies in Finnegan's hand.
FINNEGAN
Joey!! Talk to me!
CUT TO:
59 ENGINE ROOM - NIGHT 59
Mayhem... Fire spews out of the engines. Pantucci sprays a
fire extinguisher frantically. Where the shrapnel entered the
hull water now spurts with every wave. Smoke and water, oil
and fire.
PANTUCCI
Jezebel's dead...Hercules is right
behind her! We got a gusher in the
hull!
CUT TO:
60 PILOT HOUSE - NIGHT 60
As the Saipan comes to a halt, Finnegan loses play in his
remaining stick.
FINNEGAN
Shit!!
Finnegan locks the sticks down, and runs out.
CUT TO:
61 HOLD - NIGHT 61
TRACK WITH Finnegan running through the smoke filled hold,
past Hanover and the merc's who are pulling themselves off
the floor, right into the...
ENGINE ROOM. Where Pantucci is beside himself in smoke and
sputtering flame.
PANTUCCI
What did you do to my kids!!
FINNEGAN
Me??
PANTUCCI
No! The man in the moon!! Who's
driving this thing?
Finnegan notices something on the floor. He picks up a shard
of the speedboat propeller. Strange. Hanover steps into the
room.
HANOVER
What happened?
Finnegan looks at the piece of speedboat in his hand.
FINNEGAN
We ran into a speedboat...
He shows the piece of speed boat to Hanover. Who stares at
it. Finnegan sees the hint of recognition in his eyes.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
Speedboat in the middle of the
ocean...
HANOVER
How soon can we get up and running?
FINNEGAN
We can't...we got one engine dead,
and the other limping badly.
HANOVER
I have a schedule...
PANTUCCI
I spent two years building these
things...screw your schedule!
Mason grabs Pantucci by the throat, lifting him off the
ground.
MASON
You little weasel!
Finnegan slams the piece of speed boat into the back of
Mason's knees buckling him to the floor. In the blink of an
eye there is the barrel of a .45 pressed hard against his
head, Hanover at the trigger end.
HANOVER
We were talking about my
schedule...
FINNEGAN
You're going to have to get a new
one.
HANOVER
Not an option.
FINNEGAN
Then you better start swimming.
Hanover cracks Finnegan across the face with the barrel of
the gun. Finnegan's head spins. He touches the corner of his
mouth, and comes away with blood, and a look of murder in his
eyes. Hanover slams a round in the chamber.
HANOVER
One more joke and your comedy
career is over. Now fix this.
PANTUCCI
With what? Look at them...they need
gears...cylinder heads...oil
pans... we're in the middle of the
goddamn ocean...
FINNEGAN
I think he knows that Joey.
PANTUCCI
Good! So maybe he also know where
the hell am I going to get the
parts I need...
Mulligan comes running in.
MULLIGAN
Target in sight!!
CUT TO:
62 SAIPAN - NIGHT 62
Everybody stands on deck as Hanover scans the darkness
through a pair of infrared binoculars.
HANOVER
Contact verified! You know the
drill gentlemen!
The merc's scatter below deck. Hanover hands the binoculars
to Finnegan.
HANOVER (CONT'D)
Care to see what dreams are made of
Finnegan?
Finnegan's POV through the binoculars. The Fuji Maru in the
distance, lit up, beautiful.
CUT TO:
63 DECK - NIGHT 63
BAM! BAM! Two grappling hooks fly from the barrels of the two
catapults bolted to the deck, landing on the deck of the Fuji
Maru, which looms above the Saipan. Vivo pulls on the lines
until they go taut. Finnegan, Pantucci, and Leila stand by
watching as the mercs in full assault gear, communication
headsets in place, get ready for action.
VIVO
Lines set.
Mason swivels the big HARPOON GUN on the bow.
MASON
Tow lines!
VIVO
Clear!
He FIRES the HARPOON. It shoots and SLAMS into the rear deck
of the Fuji Maru.
MASON
Tow line secure.
HANOVER
Secure the zone of operation!!
Swift, athletic, the mercs leap onto the lines and scramble
hand over hand toward the Fuji Maru's deck.
HANOVER (CONT'D)
When I was a little bit of a
pissant we lived down the road from
where all the big cruise ships used
to come into Sydney harbor...
The first mercs reach the Fuji Maru's deck, and toss life
lines down to Hanover.
HANOVER (CONT'D)
Mum and me we used to sit by our
front door and watch them...she
used to say "one day you're going
to make your fortune in life on one
of them..."
Hanover hands one line to Finnegan, one to Pantucci. The
third he attaches around his waist.
FINNEGAN
Great woman your mother. Real
foresight.
HANOVER
And she could do a hell of a barbie
to boot! Belt up. You'll find all
the parts you need up there.
Finnegan and Pantucci comply.
FINNEGAN
I assume somebody up there has made
sure no distress signal can be
sent.
HANOVER
I'd say that's a pretty good
assumption.
PANTUCCI
(nervous)
You know the crew could be armed.
HANOVER
With what? Martinis and tanning
oil?
Hanover hand signals to his men above. The lines go taut.
Finnegan, Pantucci, and Hanover are hoisted to the deck of
the Fuji Maru.
CUT TO:
64 FUJI MARU DECK - NIGHT 64
Deathly silent. Not a soul is about. The mercs are deployed
in a close military defense pattern.
HANOVER
Synchronize watches...
Everyone hits a button on their watches.
HANOVER (CONT'D)
25 minutes...by the numbers. Engine
room and machine shop are on the
third sub deck...Vivo...Mulligan go
with them...keep in touch...move
out...
CUT TO:
65 SAIPAN ENGINE ROOM - NIGHT 65
A thick black hose weaves it's way across the flooded floor,
sucking water. Leila up to her knees in water, wearing a
blast visor, stripped down to her skivvies, wields a welder
against the gaping hole in the hull. As the boat dips in the
waves water sloshes in. Billy sits on the stairs trying to
stay dry. He goes to light a cigarette.
LEILA
(angry)
Kwan bat! Kwam bat! Booom!!
She points the acetalyne tank she works with.
BILLY
(bothered)
Yeah...yeah...yeah...
Billy heads for the deck. Leila looks after him in disgust.
LEILA
Asshole...
She ignites her torch, is about to flick her visor down again
when a loud gurgling, a sucking sound, stops her. She cuts
the torch. Looks around nervously...and then she spots the
suction hose sucking away.
She smiles to herself. Flips the visor, fires the torch, and
goes back to work.
CUT TO:
66 FUJI MARU DECK PASSAGEWAY - NIGHT 66
An alert Mulligan leads Finnegan and Pantucci around a
corner. Vivo brings up the rear.
PANTUCCI
You'd think they'd set a deck
watch...
FLASH TO: The deck full of people partying, carousing. The
railing is lined with 15 lifeboats suspended in their
harnesses.
FLASH BACK TO: Mulligan, Finnegan, Pantucci and Vivo staring
at a completely deserted deck. The lifeboat harnesses swing
in the breeze, eerily empty. Mulligan looks back to Vivo.
MULLIGAN
I thought the plan was we'd
evacuate them after we got through.
VIVO
Maybe plans changed...
MULLIGAN
Plans don't change...
PANTUCCI
Maybe it's the wrong ship.
MULLIGAN
Shut up!
And then a strange yowl echoes from somewhere deep in the
bowels of the ship. Finnegan and Pantucci trade a look.
FINNEGAN
Let's just keep going.
MULLIGAN
(nervous)
You ain't giving the orders here!
And again the yowl. Everyone freezes.
MULLIGAN (CONT'D)
Let's keep going!
CUT TO:
67 CRYSTAL POOL DECK - NIGHT 67
Hanover, Mason, and Chin set foot on the deserted pool deck.
FLASH TO: The pool deck is jammed with people partying. The
band playing. Two kids toss a beach ball back and forth. The
ball flies over one boy's head...
FLASH BACK TO: The ball falls into the empty pool...Where the
band's instruments litter the bottom along a big jagged
crack.
MASON
What the...
Uneasy, Hanover and his men look around at the over turned
chairs. The smashed aquarium. Chin bends down and picks up a
small squid from the bottom of the smashed aquarium. The
squid wraps its tentacles around Chin's hand almost
immediately. Chin regards it with curiosity.
HANOVER
Focus on the task Mr. Chin...
...and then the yowl freezes them. C.U. on Hanover's face.
His eyes flicker with uncertainty...and a tinge of fear.
CUT TO:
68 GRAND ATRIUM LOBBY - NIGHT 68
DING! FLASH TO: A glass elevator descending through the
spectacular atrium, full of elegant well-dressed people
laughing, chatting.
DING! FLASH BACK TO: Mulligan, Vivo, Pantucci, and Finnegan,
standing amidst the shattered glass and broken furniture,
whirling to the elevator door opening. Mulligan, nerves
ajangle, and Vivo, swing their pulse rifles up hard as the
door opens to reveal...and empty elevator! DING! The door
closes. The car starts to ascend in the eerie silence. The
mercs watch it go with growing uneasiness.
CUT TO:
69 FUJI MARU BRIDGE - DAWN 69
The door to the bridge is KICKED OPEN. Mason and Chin leap
inside. Guns out front. On edge. The overhead lights flicker
on and off. The imager screens are all black. The STEERING
WHEEL slowly ROCKS. As if an invisible captain is steering a
ghost ship. Hanover ENTERS. Eyes shifting. Suspicious, and a
bit nervous.
HANOVER
What the hell is going on?
CUT TO:
70 THE FRISCO BAR AND CASINO - DAWN 70
Mulligan leads Finnegan, Pantucci, Vivo into the casino. The
place looks like a mess. Tables and chairs are upended.
Glasses and bottles are shattered everywhere. And there's
BLOOD on the floor.
A BELL RINGS LOUDLY and the TROLLEY CAR STARTS TO MOVE!
ELECTRONIC VOICE
Next stop, Chinatown!
Everyone jumps, freaked. Mulligan and Vivo spin around and
OPEN FIRE. Start BLOWING the shit out of the TROLLEY CAR. The
GUNS sound like nothing we've ever heard. ROLLING THUNDER.
Absolutely deafening.
CUT TO:
71 FUJI MARU - DAY 71
The GUNFIRE ECHOES through the hull. Suddenly, with a loud
SPLASH, a sixteen-foot-long LIFEBOAT pops to the surface.
Then another LIFE BOAT POPS UP. Then ANOTHER. Then THREE MORE
off to the port side. Then TWO MORE off to the starboard.
It's as if the SOUND of the GUNFIRE is somehow releasing the
boats from their watery graves. They start to drift away.
Spooky quiet.
CUT TO:
72 FRISCO BAR AND CASINO - NIGHT 72
BULLETS RAKE the Trolley's metal sides. The WINDSHIELD
EXPLODES. Finnegan yells at Mulligan and Vivo --
FINNEGAN
Guys!! Whoa! WHOA! WHOA! WHOOOAAA!!
Finnegan finally tilts the muzzle of Mulligan's gun to the
ceiling. They stop firing. A little wigged-out. Their
professional demeanor going by the boards. All goes quiet.
They look at Finnegan, who is the picture of calm.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
Guys...get a grip.
The Trolley car reverses. The ELECTRONIC VOICE is now CRACKED
--
ELECTRONIC VOICE
Next stop, Fisherman's Wharf.
Mulligan whirls, his gun poised. Just then his headset
crackles.
HANOVER (V.O.)
(radio filtered)
This is Red One...status report.
Finnegan leans in towards Mulligan's mike.
FINNEGAN
(into radio)
Your boys just killed a trolley car
Red One.
Mulligan pulls the radio away.
MULLIGAN
(into radio)
We been down three decks, there's
nobody home... Total spooky-town.
Advise on how to proceed.
CUT TO:
73 CONNING TOWER - NIGHT 73
Hanover looks around at the empty bridge, the blinking
lights.
HANOVER
Stay to the schedule. Stay to the
plan. Nothing has changed.
But the look in Hanover's slightly unnerved eyes tells a
different story.
CUT TO:
74 FUGI MARU STORAGE ROOM - DAY 74
Trillian goggily crawls out from under a mound of boxes. Her
left eye's got a nice purple shiner. Her elegant gown is
ripped.
A VERY STRANGE SOUND coming from behind the wall. Wet. Gooey.
Slithery. Ominous.
Trillian freezes.
TRILLIAN
Hello?
The SOUND slowly MOVES across the wall. Then another WALL
starts to GURGLE. Trillian spins around. She forces herself
not to panic. Very cautiously, taking small measured steps
she reaches the handle to the freezer, and tries to open it.
No go.
The gurgling ripples above her. Her mouth goes dry as her
eyes follow the sound across the ceiling. Her hand goes to
her hair. She pulls her lock pick out, and very slowly kneels
down until she is eye level with the door lock. She begins to
pick her way out, her ears and eyes following the gurgling
above. Suddenly the sound stops. The silence makes Trillian's
heart sound that much louder. She sidles close to the wall.
TRILLIAN (CONT'D)
Hello?
Still silence. Cautious, she taps on the wall. For a moment
nothing. And then...
WHAMM!!
Something slams against the wall from the other side in
response. Trillian falls back against the door, her heart in
her throat.
CUT TO:
75 ENGINE CHAMBERS - DAY 75
A MAZE of pipes, hoses, gears, engines and catwalks. THINGS
are HISSING, HUMMING, RUMBLING and CLANKING. A spooky place.
Dark. Damp. Eerie. Ominous. Mulligan and Vivo, looking more
nervous by the moment, lead the way. Finnegan and Pantucci
follow.
PANTUCCI
(rattling, nervous)
You know what I'm gonna do after
this...I'm gonna get a normal
life...
FINNEGAN
(calm)
Joey...
PANTUCCI
...Like a house in the suburbs...
maybe a couple of kids...some sort
of business...be in the bowling
league...go to the ball games...
Finnegan turns to Pantucci, his voice even, calm, almost
kind.
FINNEGAN
Joey...it's okay...
PANTUCCI
What? You don't think I can have a
normal life?
FINNEGAN
Joey...look at me...
He forces Pantucci to look him in the eyes.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
We're gonna get what we gotta
get... do what we gotta do...and
get the hell outta here...okay?
Pantucci draws his strength from Finnegan. He forces himself
to take a deep breath.
PANTUCCI
Okay...
Suddenly, overhead, something black and veiny skitters across
the mass of pipes, so fast it shocks Pantucci back into the
wall.
MULLIGAN
What the...???
He and Vivo spin their guns at the pipes. The red dots of
their laser sights sweep the shadowy web of metal. Nothing.
MULLIGAN (CONT'D)
Come on...the sooner we get outta
here the better I'll feel. Mulligan
and Vivo move forward.
PANTUCCI
(quiet)
Finnegan...
Finnegan turns to Pantucci, who has not moved from where he
hit the wall.
FINNEGAN
It's okay...come on...
PANTUCCI
(scared)
I'm stuck...
Pantucci tries to pull away from the wall. He is stuck.
MULLIGAN
(jumpy)
Hey! What are you trying to pull!
PANTUCCI
(pleading)
John...
Finnegan takes Pantucci by the front of his shirt, ignoring
Mulligan.
FINNEGAN
Relax your arms...slowly...that's
it...
As Finnegan pulls, Pantucci does as he is told. He slips away
from the wall. The jacket doesn't.
MULLIGAN
What the...
He reaches out to touch the wall. Finnegan grabs his wrist,
grabs a flashlight from Vivo's utility belt and shines it on
the wall. Their POV -- the entire wall is covered in a
strange, yellow, secreted GELATIN. Laid on in some sort of
weird, inhuman, geometric pattern. Like a spider web.
CUT TO:
76 THE SAIPAN'S HOLD - DAY 76
Leila has welded half the hole shut. A GUSH OF WATER suddenly
pours through the other half. Leila cuts the torch.
LEILA
Gebop!!
The KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK of the PUMP is like a loud scary
HEARTBEAT. Leila removes her blast visor. Wipes her brow.
-- A MANGLED CORPSE GUSHES IN through the gaping hole!
LEILA SCREAMS. Bloody murder. Scared shitless. Quickly backs
away. Actually, it's only half a corpse. The bottom half
having been eaten away. It's wearing a tuxedo. The corpse's
face is tightly constricted, eyes wide open, a grotesque
death mask. Leila shakes like a leaf, waist-deep in seawater.
CUT TO:
77 SAIPAN DECK - NIGHT 77
Billy is staring out at all the lifeboats as they drift away.
All he can hear is the loud KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK of the PUMP. He
talks into his headset --
BILLY
(into radio)
I dunno where they came from,
turned around and there they were.
(pause)
No, no passengers.
(pause)
No shit I'll keep my eyes open.
CUT TO:
78 ENGINE ROOM - NIGHT 78
Leila trembles in the waist-high water. The PUMP'S HEARTBEAT
seems to have gotten louder.
KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK.
Leila slowly starts edging her way around the corpse.
KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK.
Her eyes are transfixed, staring at the abomination, too
scared to scream.
KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK.
Her back is to the gaping hole as she slowly starts to pass
in front of it.
KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK.
The water swirls around her waist.
KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK.
She's almost past the gaping hole now.
KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK...
Then something grabs her! She SCREAMS! And falls back towards
the gaping hole -- But it's only a twisted piece of metal off
a strut. She exhales. Relieved.
KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK.
Suddenly, LEILA'S whole body SPASMS. She SCREECHES wildly, in
great pain. The she's RIPPED backward out through the gaping
hole. Gone. WATER SLOSHES back in.
KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK-KA-CHUNK.
CUT TO:
79 FUJI MARU MACHINE SHOP - NIGHT 79
Knee deep in water, an edgy Mulligan watches Finnegan as he
disassembles pieces of a thermal carburetor from an auxiliary
generator. His eyes keep shifting around.
Over in the far corner Vivo is watching Pantucci working over
a metal lathe, repairing the cylinder head. Metal-on-metal.
Vivo sits up on a barrel, trying to keep his feet out of the
water.
FINNEGAN
The hulls of these things are
supposed to be impregnable...
MULLIGAN
So?
FINNEGAN
So...If the hull's impregnable why
are my feet wet?
MULLIGAN
Why don't you just stop figuring
and keep working so we can get the
hell out of here?
PANTUCCI
Why don't you help us so we can get
done faster so we can get the hell
out of here?
MULLIGAN
'Cause grease monkey ain't in my
job description dick head...
Vivo pulls his feet further up on the barrel.
VIVO
What I want to know is why the
goddamn ocean is always
cold...since I'm a kid I hate god
damn cold water.
Then out of the corner of his eye, Vivo sees SOMETHING MOVE.
He spins around. Nothing but pipes and hoses.
MULLIGAN
(nervous)
What was that?
VIVO
Nothing.
MULLIGAN
Someone's back there.
VIVO
Hey! Come out here!
Finnegan and Pantucci stop working. All eyes are focused on
the maze of pipes. THINGS are HISSING, HUMMING and RUMBLING.
Nothing moves.
MULLIGAN
Check it out!
VIVO
Hey! You hear me? Come out! Still
no response.
MULLIGAN
Will you check it the hell out!!
Disgusted, Vivo puts his feet in the water, gingerly.
VIVO
Man this shit is cold!
He walks toward the mass of hissing pipes. His pulse rifle
rising.
VIVO (CONT'D)
I'm gonna kick your ass for putting
me through this...
Then he hears a strange SLURPING and SUCKING SOUND coming
from behind some gears at the end of a little alleyway.
VIVO (CONT'D)
I'm not screwing around with you
man...I hate the cold water.
MULLIGAN
What is it man?
VIVO
I'm looking...
Vivo slowly goes in for a closer look, gun out front, heading
down the little alleyway. He looks behind some pipes. The
SLURPING gets LOUDER. Then he sees it. His eyes widen --
VIVO (CONT'D)
On shit!
And that's the last thing he ever says. Because just then,
from a dark area between the pipes, SOMETHING SHOOTS OUT!
Mulligan, Finnegan, and Pantucci stare in horrified amazement
as Vivo is viciously YANKED into the pipes.
A moment later a WASH OF BLOOD is FLUNG across a wall.
Mulligan freaks out, aims his rifle at the pipes.
MULLIGAN
Vivo!! Vivo!!
As Mulligan's attention diverts, Finnegan instinctively heads
for Vivo's rifle, lying on the floor. Mulligan swings around.
KACHUNK!! His rifle is armed. The laser dot fixes on
Finnegan's forehead.
MULLIGAN (CONT'D)
Touch it and you're dead, asshole!
Finnegan freezes, looking up at a very freaked out Mulligan.
PANTUCCI
Don't shoot, man, don't shoot!
MULLIGAN
What happened to Vivo?! What the
hell happened to Vivo?
Everybody's breathing hard. Freaked out. Major tension. Blood
drips down the wall.
CUT TO:
80 VAULT ROOM - NIGHT 80
Trillian steps up to the vault, looking around, a bit
nervous, something is definitely not right here.
TRILLIAN
Helloooo?
She shrugs, must be her imagination. From inside her low cut
dress she pulls the Captain's gold security card. She is
about to run it through the reader slot when...
V.O.
Ahem... She spins to...Hanover, Mason, Mamooli and Chin.
Looking grim.
TRILLIAN
(recovering)
I'm sorry... This area is for
authorized personnel only. As the
assistant to the Purser, I'm afraid
I'll have to ask you to vacate...
Mason and Chin lift their pulse-rifles. KACHUNK!!
TRILLIAN (CONT'D)
Or maybe not.
HANOVER
Where is everybody?
Trillian is confused --
TRILLIAN
What do you mean?
Hanover steps forward, right in her face.
HANOVER
(threatening)
I mean...where is everybody?
TRILLIAN
Poolside?
Hanover grabs Trillian by the throat and slams her against
the wall. He rams his gun against her forehead.
HANOVER
You tell it straight or I pull the
trigger. Who are you?
TRILLIAN
(choking)
A passenger...
Hanover blinks.
HANOVER
Where are the other passengers?
Trillian shrugs. Mason grabs the card out of her hand.
MASON
Forget her...let's get what we came
for and get the hell out of here!
Mason runs the card through the slot. The ELECTRONICS KICK
IN. LIGHTS FLASH. TUMBLERS ROLL. CLICK! It unlocks. Hanover's
HEADSET comes alive with Mulligan SCREAMING.
HANOVER
Mulligan?? What?? I can't hear
you?? Repeat I...
-- Mason JERKS the vault door open. A FIRE-AXE SWING DOWN
into his head, WHUMP! Kills him instantly. Eyes wide open.
Everybody freaks out. Jumps back. Hanover lets go of
Trillian, and stares into the vault directly at Nigel Canton.
Holding the axe.
CANTON
Oh my God. I didn't mean to...
Behind Canton the Captain is on the floor, in severe pain,
his clothes are ripped up, REVEALING nasty looking RED SCARS,
blistered and puffy, all over his chest and arms.
CANTON (CONT'D)
I thought it was one of them!
Chin jams his rifle to the middle of Canton's forehead, and
cocks a round into the chamber.
HANOVER
Stand down soldier!
But this is one soldier who is slow to obey the order.
Hanover grabs Chin by both shoulders and gives a colossal
yank.
HANOVER (CONT'D)
I said...
He slams Chin against the wall. In the process he loses his
headset.
HANOVER (CONT'D)
Stand down!!
Chin and Hanover stare at each other, their chests heaving.
Mason finally drops to the ground. All she wrote.
CANTON
I didn't mean to! I though it was
one of them!
HANOVER
One of who?!
CUT TO:
81 MACHINE SHOP - NIGHT 81
The machinery is sputtering, and sparking, shorting, steaming
as the sea rises. Mulligan, in a panic, has backed Finnegan
and Pantucci into a corner. He screams over his headset.
MULLIGAN
Hanover!...Hanover! Come in! Come
in you son-of-a-bitch!
No response. A sucking sound comes from the dark mass of
pipes. Mulligan spins.
MULLIGAN (CONT'D)
Hanover!! Hanover!!
FINNEGAN
Forget them...
Mulligan spins back to Finnegan and Pantucci.
MULLIGAN
(fried)
Shut up! You hear me!!
FINNEGAN
...we gotta get outta here -- NOW.
MULLIGAN
Shut up, man, just shut the hell
up! I gotta think! I gotta think!!
PANTUCCI
What's there to think about?? That
THING back there...
MULLIGAN
There ain't no thing here!! No
thing!! There's you him and me!!
Got it! You him and...
Suddenly, Mulligan's LEGS are suddenly JERKED OUT from under
him. He hits the floor hard. Starts FIRING WILDLY.
Finnegan and Pantucci hit the watery deck.
BULLETS RICOCHET everywhere. Mulligan is WHIPPED across the
floor. SCREAMING in fear. His pulse-rifle goes flying. He's
SLAMMED into a metal pylon, then SUCKED into a dark void in
the pipes. All in the blink of an eye.
Finnegan grabs Mulligan's pulse-rifle. OPENS FIRE. BLASTING
the shit out of anything and everything that moves.
FINNEGAN
Grab the parts!!
Pantucci grabs the knapsack, cramming as many parts as he can
into it as Finnegan keeps firing into the steaming, creaking,
sparking machinery.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
I'll cover! Move! Move!
Pantucci doesn't have to be told twice. He runs like hell,
with Finnegan firing a final burst, and following.
CUT TO:
82 VAULT - NIGHT 82
Everyone hears the MASSIVE GUNFIRE. Hanover looks around for
the source of the sound. He finds it in his discarded
headset.
HANOVER
This is Red one! Come in Red two!
The gunfire stops, replaced by an ominous, horrifying,
sucking sound.
CANTON
(panicked)
It's them! We've got to get off!
He runs out of the vault. The Captain follows close behind.
Hanover listens to the sucking sound getting louder and
louder.
HANOVER
Let's find them!
CHIN
What about the vault?
HANOVER
It's not going anywhere...
Hanover rushes out with Chin right behind.
Only Trillian remains, breathing deeply, scared...but not
scared enough to forget the reason she came cruising in the
first place. She goes right to the vault, opens one of the
boxes, removes the giant diamond, drops it down her
decolletage, pulls her high heels off, and runs out.
CUT TO:
83 ENGINE ROOM - NIGHT 83
Finnegan and Pantucci run to the end of a long section of
metal grating, right below a staircase, to catch their
breath. Everything has gone dead quiet, except for the
billowing and clanging of the engines. Smoke and sparks
obscure their vision.
PANTUCCI
Finnegan, what the hell was that?
FINNEGAN
I don't know...you got what we
need?
PANTUCCI
If I don't, I ain't going back to
get it...you think we're safe?
Both of them listen to the silence. And then, at the far end
of the grating, one grate rises...and falls. Finnegan and
Pantucci watch, transfixed. Then, like a locomotive gathering
speed, the grates start rising and falling, faster and
faster, clanking louder and louder, headed right for the two
of them.
LOUDERFASTERLOUDERFASTER!!!
FINNEGAN
Come on!!
Finnegan and Pantucci run up the stairs as fast as they
can...just as the grate they were standing on rises and
falls. Silence returns. Except for the steaming, creaking
machinery...and an ominous sucking sound.
CUT TO:
84 PASSAGEWAY - NIGHT 84
Trillian comes running down the passageway to a freight
elevator. Looking over her shoulder, she hits the button. The
elevator doors open to a freight elevator large enough to
hold a dozen people. Trillian rushes in and hits the up
button. She breathes a sigh of relief as the steel doors
close...until the elevator starts going down.
TRILLIAN
Up!! I want to go up!
She panics. And starts pushing the up button frantically, her
heart pounding in her chest.
There is not a sound except for the hum of the elevator
descending...until something drops on the roof with a THUMP!
Trillian screams. The elevator comes to a bumps stop.
TRILLIAN (CONT'D)
No...No...
Trillian shrinks from the ceiling of the elevator...and then
the car starts to move again.
TRILLIAN (CONT'D)
Go up...please go up!
Trillian pounds on ever button on the console, to no avail.
The car continues its inexorable descent. Finally, in
desperation, she hits the emergency stop button. The elevator
stops. The emergency SIREN WHINES. A LONG BEAT. Nothing
moves...and then...
WHAM! Something beats on the roof, trying to break in. And
again -- WHAM! The ELEVATOR SHUDDERS and continues its
descent. Trillian backs up against the wall, staring at the
ceiling, scared. The ELEVATOR DINGS!
Startled, TRILLIAN SCREAMS. The DOORS start to OPEN.
Panicked, Trillian raises the only weapon at her disposal...a
high heel. The DOORS OPEN. -- SOMETHING LUNGES IN! Trillian
swings her high heel...right into Pantucci's face!
Finnegan plows in right behind him.
PANTUCCI
OWWW!! OOWWW!!!
Trillian tries to run out. Finnegan grabs her.
TRILLIAN
I'm not staying here!
FINNEGAN
It ain't any better out there!
Trillian struggles. Finnegan does not let go of her.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
Lady, I'm telling you...
Trillian buries her high heel into the back of Finnegan's
hand, breaking his grip.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
OWW!
Just then, the doors to the elevator shut, and the car starts
to ascend.
TRILLIAN
Now look what you did!
FINNEGAN
I saved your life is what I did!
TRILLIAN
Who asked you to!
PANTUCCI
What the hell's going on here?
TRILLIAN
You're with that other bunch,
right?
FINNEGAN
What other bunch?
TRILLIAN
The thieves.
FINNEGAN
I'm not a thief.
TRILLIAN
Then who are you?
FINNEGAN
I'm their ride.
Trillian hears music to her ears.
TRILLIAN
You have a boat?
Her demeanor changes, her voice goes to honey.
PANTUCCI
Finnegan!
Trillian and Finnegan turn to Pantucci who is looking down at
the floor where a mass of yellow slime has dripped from the
ceiling. All look up to the yellow goo dripping from the
ceiling...followed by a sucking sound.
TRILLIAN
It's up there!!
Finnegan lifts his pulse rifle and blasts the ceiling. The
sucking sound stops.
FINNEGAN
Not anymore.
The elevator stops. DING! The door opens. Finnegan whirls his
rifle, rising. Trillian lifts her high heel, ready to
strike...
Hanover, Chin, and Mamooli have their massive guns trained on
the car. The Captain and Canton quiver behind them. There is
a momentary stand off.
HANOVER
Where are my men?
FINNEGAN
Dead.
CHIN
YAAHHH!!
Chin charges Finnegan, the butt of his rifle raised to smash
Finnegan's skull. Finnegan parries and drives Chin into the
rear wall of the elevator. Mamooli jumps Finnegan from
behind, wrapping his rifle against Finnegan's throat.
Pantucci jumps on Mamooli's massive back, ripping at his
face. Finnegan drops, buries his elbow in Mamooli's solar
plexus, spins, and has his knife out of his boot and at
Mamooli's throat in a flash.
ANGLE ON: Trillian. Impressed. She had no idea.
HANOVER
Drop it!
Finnegan looks up into the barrel of Hanover's gun...and a
pair of eyes that will use it. Finnegan does as he is told.
HANOVER (CONT'D)
Now, back up!
Again, Finnegan does as he is told.
HANOVER (CONT'D)
Everybody in!
The Captain and Canton are only to happy to comply. As they
slip in, Trillian tries to slip out. Hanover swings his gun
on her.
HANOVER (CONT'D)
Where are you going?
TRILLIAN
(freezing)
Nowhere...
FINNEGAN
Hanover, listen...
HANOVER
Shut up!
Hanover hit the elevator button. The elevator starts to rise.
HANOVER (CONT'D)
Now, where's Mulligan? Where's
Vivo?
FINNEGAN
I told you...
PANTUCCI
Man, there's something here! On the
boat!
CANTON
You see? You see?
HANOVER
Shut up! Shut up all of you! Now
here's what we're doing... Mamooli
is going to take you back to fix
your engines, Chin and I are
staying here to finish the job...
FINNEGAN
Did you clear this?
HANOVER
With who?
All of a sudden, the car is jerked to a halt, as if some
giant hand was yanking on the cable.
FINNEGAN
With that...
And then, the elevator jerks down again. And up. Everyone is
thrown about like straw. Everyone is shouting, panicked.
And then the jerking stops...and the sound of sucking
surrounds the car. The cable starts twisting, creaking
sickeningly above their heads.
PANTUCCI
It's gonna snap the cable!
Trillian starts hitting the buttons frantically.
TRILLIAN
Open! Open! God damn it!!
Finnegan is at the doors, pulling them with all his might.
FINNEGAN
Help me!!
Pantucci, then Mamooli, then Hanover and Chin pull at the
doors as Trillian keeps hitting the buttons. The doors part a
bit.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
They're coming! They're coming!
The doors fly open to...a solid wall.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
Oh shit...
And silence...until the doors slam shut...the cable
snaps...and the car plummets! Screaming and shouting mixes
with the bloodcurdling shrieking of the metal elevator frame
against the shaft. Finnegan's eyes go to the floor indicator.
13 12 -- 11 -- 10 -- 9 -- 8 -- 7 -- 6 -- 5 -- 4! 13
An AUTOMATED VOICE rapidly CALLS OUT right along with it --
VOICE
4th floor. 3rd floor. 2nd floor.
1st floor...
Down, down, down it goes. Faster and faster. But the elevator
doesn't stop at the first floor. It keeps dropping. The FLOOR
INDICATOR BLINKS: "SUBLEVEL. SUBLEVEL. SUBLEVEL."
CANTON
It's taking us to the bottom of the
ship!
FINNEGAN
HANG ON!
CABLES SNAP. METAL SCREAMS. The ELEVATOR starts to BUCKLE.
Which is actually good, because it's getting jammed sideways
in the shaft which slows it down. The it HITS bottom with a
resounding crash.
CUT TO:
85 SUBLEVEL LOBBY - DAY 85
The DOORS BLOW OUT into the darkened hallway. For a long
moment nothing moves, then Finnegan tumbles out of the
elevator. Rising painfully. One after another the others exit
into the dark lobby.
HANOVER
Where are we?
CANTON
The sublevel lobby.
Finnegan bends down to pick up one of the pulse rifles.
HANOVER
Don't touch it!
Finnegan looks up to Hanover standing a bit shakily, his own
rifle trained on Finnegan.
FINNEGAN
You shoot me and you got no ride
home...
And with that, Finnegan picks up the gun. A test of wills.
Finnegan wins, and then turns to the Captain.
FINNEGAN (CONT'D)
You the Captain?
CAPTAIN
Yes.
FINNEGAN
How do we get out of here?
CAPTAIN
We have to make it to the third
deck...
Pantucci steps on something. CRUNCH! He looks down, his eyes
widen.
PANTUCCI
Oh no!! Oh no!! Finnegan!!!
He starts dancing around, trying not to step on whatever it
is. Trillian looks down and SCREAMS.
Everybody freaks --
Finnegan grabs a flashlight from Chin's utility belt, and
sweeps the beam over the lobby. The entire floor of the lobby
is littered with shattered HUMAN SKELETONS. Picked clean and
spit out. Just like the earlier whale bones.
Then suddenly, at the far end of the hallway, one of the
metal WALLS suddenly EXPANDS and FLEXES. Everybody feezes.
And then the FLEXING suddenly comes RACING down either side
of the hallway, accompanied by the most god-awful PRIMORDIAL
SCREECH!
FINNEGAN
This way!
FINNEGAN BOLTS. Everybody else right behind him. The FLEXING
and SCREECHING VANISHES into the walls.
CUT TO:
86 FUJI MARY & SAIPAN - DAY | 
