EXT. EDGE OF THE FOREST LARGE RURAL PARK - 2AM
The group are making their way along the edge of the forest in the darkness
YOSHIDA: I miss the old Jeff.
No one else said anything.
YOSHIDA:I wonder what happened to him?
DIEGO: I’d rather not talk about it? There isn’t anything we can do for him in our current situation.
YOSHIDA: He’s one of those guys that you can’t relate to when he’s here but you miss him when he’s gone. I think he’s a good egg deep down.
DIEGO: Let’s not get too carried away.
Suddenly the whizzing sound of drones can be heard. Loads of them
CALUM HOLMES: Follow me, quickly
They all followed Calum’s lead
Timothy decides to branch off and not follow Calum.
SYLVIA: Charlie where are you going?
CHARLIE MORRISON: If we all go in the same direction it will be easier to find us.
Charlie keeps running without looking back
Suddenly out of nowhere he receives a punch to the head rendering him unconscious
INT. ROGER STEINHAM’S TERRORIST GROUP HQ - MORNING
Roger Steinham stands in front of a whiteboard with the twelve remaining members of his terrorist organisation looking on. He is briefing his subordinates in relation to an upcoming attack on another army unit almost a hundred miles away.
Jorge Shavez puts his hand in the air and Roger Steinham gives a nod in Jorge’s direction.
JORGE CHAVEZ: Captain, shouldn’t we be attacking Reapers or government forces who clamp down on innocent civilians in the name of changeling cleansing. Every time we clamp down on innocent soldiers, guys we used to fight along side, we are putting a nail in our own coffin. It is making us more and more unpopular. If we attacked the Reapers or similar units, that might be something that the general public might be able to support.
ROGER STEINHAM: Any American soldier who puts on a uniform swears allegiance to a government that has failed us. They are not innocent. They support the government and we must be a thorn in their side. Do you have a problem with that Chavez?”
JORGE CHAVEZ: I was just putting it out there Captain.
ROGER STEINHAM: Do we have a problem Chavez?
JORGE CHAVEZ: No Captain, there is no problem.
ROGER STEINHAM: From now on Shavez, you’ll be right out front where we can all see you. We don’t tolerate soft men in this unit, only real men, men who are not afraid of punching their way through a brick wall. We need to be sure that you are in line with us Shavez and not a weak link in the chain.
JORGE CHAVEZ: I am not soft Captain and I stand beside all of you.
ROGER STEINHAM: I should hope so.
INT. ROGER STEINHAM’S TERRORIST GROUP SLEEPING QUARTERS - NIGHT
Jorge Chavez wakes up in the middle of the night. He looks at a clock that reads 2:42am. The other three occupants of the room are sleeping in their beds.
Slowly, he lifts up the bed sheets and starts to climb down the creaky ladder of the bunk bed to the floor. He puts on his clothes in the dark.
Shavez makes his way out into the corridor and enters the kitchen. The kitchen is dark for the most part. The only light was from the clock of the microwave. Chavez notices Steinham is sitting at the kitchen table.
ROGER STEINHAM: Turn on the light
Chavez turns on the light and sees Steinham fully dressed in military uniform with a revolver on the table in front of him.
ROGER STEINHAM: I’ve been waiting for you Chavez. I’ve known that you were soft since the day I met you. I hoped that I’d be wrong. Nobody leaves this base without permission. It seems that I have a choice. If I allow this cancer to grow, it will only spread. Instead, I have to cut the cancer out at all costs even if it goes right to the bone. Isn’t that right Chavez?
Jorge doesn’t respond.
The Captain stands up, leaving the gun on the table.
ROGER STEINHAM: I’m not soft like you Chavez but I’m going to give you one more chance to prove that you’re not yellow. I am now unarmed. Get by me and you are home free.
Jorge looks at his leader up and down.
ROGER STEINHAM: Go ahead Chavez. Are you a sissy or a man?
Again Jorge looks at the Captain and examines his eyes and his hands for the slightest sign of movement. He punches the Captain in the face. Steinham is dazed temporarily. Jorge reaches for a pan and belts his leader over the head.
He looks at the gun on the kitchen table, but doesn’t take it. He runs as fast as he can out of the kitchen and out of the building. He scales a fence and runs through a field.
Jorge Chavez is a hundred yards from the terrorist building when a bullet rips through his back, causing him to fall to the ground. The escapee is in great pain and can hardly breathe as the bullet has pierced his lung.
Captain Steinham stands over him. Chavez is on his back spitting blood out of his mouth.
ROGER STEINHAM: You should have killed me when you had the chance, you weak, soft little boy.
He shoots the younger man in the forehead and walks away.
INT. CAB OF HASSERSMITH 85 TRUCK CABIN - NOON
Lieutenant Haskell is driving a large truck. Beside him was Captain Roger Steinham. The trailer conceals thirteen heavily armed men.
LIEUTENANT HASKELL: Did you ever want to take a break from it all Captain?
ROGER STEINHAM: No
LIEUTENANT HASKELL: I always have.Have you ever been to Hamilton, Utah, Captain?
ROGER STEINHAM: Can’t say I have.
LIEUTENANT HASKELL: My deceased wife, wanted to go there on holiday, before she died. She said they had great amenities for kids and some breath-taking scenery. I told you about my wife Captain and how she died, didn’t I?
ROGER STEINHAM: I’ve asked you the question many times Haskell. Every time you told me she was killed by an army officer. One day, you said, you would like to exact revenge on him.
LIEUTENANT HASKELL: Yesterday, I got some news about his whereabouts and today I hope to get my revenge.
As they round the corner, a road block comes into view. There are dozens of army officers blocking the road, behind two trucks.
LIEUTENANT HASKELL: Have you ever been to Hamilton, Utah, Captain?
The Lieutenant produces a revolver and points it at the terrorist leader.
LIEUTENANT HASKELL: Do you remember killing a young woman and her two children. The woman’s name was Meredith Easter. Her children were Denis and Sue Ellen. We’ve known each other a long time, but not as long as you think. I knew Haskell myself. We served in the army together. He was a nasty piece of work just like you. You were paranoid about who was responsible for gradually dismantling your terrorist organisation. The one man you trusted most was the one man you least suspected. My real name is Easter by the way, Orwell Easter.
The truck comes to a halt, three metres from the road block. Easter puts the handbrake on, but Steinham lunges for the gun. The gun goes off but Steinham manages to divert it away from him. After a brief struggle, Steinham overpowers Haskell Army officers try to enter the cabin, but Easter has locked both doors. Steinham shoots Easter several times and moves his victim out of the driver seat. As he does so, soldiers start to shoot at him, but he manages to start the truck, despite being wounded.
Captain Steinham attempts to bulldoze his way through the roadblock. The trailer became unhinged from the truck as he does so and he caused damage to the army vehicles in front of him. The truck that Steinham is driving grinds to a halt on the side of the road thirty yards beyond the roadblock. Steinham remains in the driver’s seat, in great pain and with blood draining out of him. Army officers surround him. In a matter of seconds he is dead.
INT. OVAL OFFICE - 12:15PM
President Westwood picks up the phone. Major Underwood is on the other end of the line.
MAJOR UNDERWOOD: We have him Mr President. Steinham is dead.
PRESIDENT WESTWOOD: It’s good news Major Underwood, but Roger Steinham is worth more to me alive than dead. He was undermining the success of all those who stand against me. Of all the rebels, he was the most psychotic and unpopular. Steinham is very much alive Colonel, don’t you see, he has to be.
The conversation ends
SARGENT THOMSON: Major, there are some journalists here already. What should I tell them?
MAJOR UNDERWOOD: Tell them that a lorry driver who had not paid his insurance tried to ram a road block and was shot dead at the scene. The road block was set up to capture a terrorist but he evaded capture.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM AT ARMY BASE - MORNING
Charlie awakes to find that he has a throbbing headache. He has a loose hood placed over his head and he is bound to a chair. After less than a minute of waking up, the young man attempts to wriggle free without success.
Charlie hears the sound of footsteps approaching and subsequently the door of the room is unlocked.
REAPER 1: Charlie Morrison. We’ve been tracking you for some time. What do you know about your comrades Morrison?
Charlie did not answer.
REAPER 1: Answer me Tomkins
Charlie receives a blow to the head and he grimaces in pain.
REAPER 1: Where are your friends?
Charlie receives a blow to his stomach but still, Charlie does not speak.
INT. OUSIDE INTERROGATION ROOM AT ARMY BASE - MORNING
CHESTER BUCANNON: AVERAGE HEIGHT, SLIM, 42 YEARS OLD, IN SECURRITY GUARDS CLOTHES, FAIR HAIR WITH FLECKS OF GREY
Chester Bucannon out of curiosity takes his keys and opens the door to the interrogation room. He turns on the light switch and can see two individuals bound and gagged with loose hoods over their heads. He removes the first hood and sees a badly beaten young man who he doesn’t recognise. He replaces the hood. The security guard moves to the next captive and removes the hood. It looks like the President of the United States of America.
The security guard proceeds to remove the binds that restrain the badly beaten politician.
CHESTER: Are you ok man?
The politician starts doing a series of stretching exercises.
CHESTER: Hey man are you ok?
President Westwood lunges for the Security Guard’s gun. The politician changes form to a man that Chester doesn’t recognise.
CHESTER: Holy shit, a changeling.
The changeling proceeds to bind and gag the security guard to the chair.
The Changeling then removes the hood from the other captive.
Charlie was initially stunned by the light but then recogniss the Kylot in front of him.
CHARLIE MORRISON (through his gagged mouth): Jeff
Jeff proceeded to loosen the rope that bound him but did not remove them fully.
JEFF: You’re on your own kid. You’re a liability to me.
Jeff turns into a Reaper, grabs a robe that is hanging on a hook on the wall and leaves the room.
Jeff strides down a long corridor and down a winding stairway. Three of the individuals he passes by are security guards, others appear to be FBI agents in suits.
At the end of another long corridor, Jeff can see the entrance to the building.
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE INTERROGATION ROOM - MORNING
Charlie Is wearing a security guards uniform that is too big for him. His face is battered and bruised.
In front of the young captive, are three security guards in conversation. One of them, is about forty years old with chestnut hair, turns around and addresses him.
40 YEAR OLD SECURITY GUARD: Who are you? I haven’t seen you before.
CHARLIE: I’m the new guy.
40 YEAR OLD SECURITY GUARD: What happened to your face?
CHARLIE: A reaper took a dislike to me. Scary feckers they are. If only I was seven foot tall.
40 YEAR OLD SECURITY GUARD: I don’t remember any mention of a new guy (turning to address his colleagues)
34 YEAR OLD GUARD: Me neither
40 YEAR OLD SECURITY GUARD: Hold it right there.
He picks up his radio and calls the front desk
40 YEAR OLD SECURITY GUARD: Do we have any reports of a new staff member on security detail this week?
A Reaper grabs his walkie talkie and turns it off.
JEFF AS REAPER: So this is where you are. You’ve abandoned your post again. Couldn’t find your proper uniform eh?
The reaper pushes Charlie in the direction of the exit.
INT. FRONT DESK OF ARMY BASE - MORNING
HEAD OF SECURITY: Who is this kid?
JEFF AS REAPER: Some punk who wants to be a security guard. If you don’t mind, I’m going to take him outside and take him to task.
The head of security didn’t ask any more questions. Jeff gave the young captive another kick for good measure.
EXT. OUTSIDE ARMY BASE BUILDING - MORNING
Outside of the building is a large open space made of concrete. Some distance away is the front gate, surrounded along the perimeter by a barbed wire fence. Fifty feet away is a young army Private sitting in the driver seat of a jeep.
JEFF AS REAPER: You there. I have to take this man to Birkenshaw
ARMY PRIVATE: I’m sorry but I’m waiting for the General.
JEFF AS REAPER: Let me handle the General. This is important. This is a matter of National Security. This man here is part of a plot to kill the President. Do I have your attention? I assure you. You will be rewarded. You might even get a medal. The General can sod off. Are you with me?
The Army Private nods his head and the three of them are driven to the front gate. Charlie avoids making eye contact with the Army officers and other individuals on the base.
The jeep an it’s occupants reach the front gate and a Corporal approaches them
ARMY PRIVATE: Corporal, we’re on emergency business. We’ve got to get these guys to Birkenshaw.
CORPORAL AT FRONT GATE: Birkenshaw? I’ve never heard of Birkenshaw.
The Reaper who had been quiet and facing forward up to this point, turned his head in an intimidating manner.
CORPORAL AT FRONT GATE: Ok, you are free to go.
The Jeep is twelve miles down the road when Jeff asks the Army Private to drive down a side road. As soon as the vehicle comes to a stop, Jeff belts the soldier over the head, rendering him unconscious.
JEFF: Take off his clothes.
Jeff destroys all of the communications equipment on the jeep and slashes its tyres. Both men drag the Private’s body from the jeep, deep into a small forest nearby and bound and tied him to a tree.
CHARLIE MORRISON: Why did you come back for me?.
JEFF: I didn’t come back for you. If you haven’t realised, this is no time for chit chat. Save your energy. We have a lot of running ahead of us. Besides, there’s no point to life if there is nobody to moan to.
Jeff started to run deeper into the forest. Instinctively Charlie followed.
INT. PENNINGTON ARMY BASE - MORNING
The leader of the Reapers entered the Army base at Pennington, just outside the City of Burbank, flanked by three of his associates and accompanied by the head of security, Dane Howard. Eventually they reached room 205.
REAPER LEADER: Where is the security guard?
Dane turned the key and opened the door. Once he opens the door, he could see a bound and gagged security guard but no prisoners.
SECURITY GUARD DANE HOWARD: Chester, what have you done?
CHESTER: I’m sorry sir but they escaped.
SECURITY GUARD DANE HOWARD: I can see that Chester. How and when?
The leader of the reapers then grabs Dane around the top of his vest and squeezes tight.
REAPER LEADER: You better find them now or you will answer to me for it.
EXT. FOREST NEAR BURBANK - MORNING
The sound of sirens in the distance and helicopters overhead can be heard
JEFF: Hold on. Take cover.
They waited. The helicopters seemed close. They could also hear the sound of sirens and some barking dogs. Eventually helicopters moved on and Jeff and Charlie ran once more.
Cut to
Jeff and Charlie, run down a hill and Jeff comes to a stop. He looks around. In front of them is a small rocky stream and behind it is another hill.
CHARLIE MORRISON: What do we do now?
JEFF: Well if you have any bright ideas, speak up. I am not going back there. I am not going down without a fight. Do you hear me? I’d rather eat frogs all day long and I hate frogs.
Charlie hears a voice call out.
ATTICUS: ELEVEN YEAR OLD BOY, FIVE FEET TALL, SLIM, DARK HAIR, BLUE EYES, WEARS SHORT LIGHT RED TROUSERS, IS BARE CHESTED WITH MARKINGS OF DIRT
ATTICUS: Over here.
Charlie turns around and could see a young boy of about eleven years old.
CHARLIE: Let’s follow him.
JEFF: He’s just a feckin’ kid.
CHARLIE: Have you any better ideas?
Jeff is silent and reluctantly follows the others.
The boy walks a hundred yards along the stream, before stopping. The sound of barking dogs is now getting louder.
The boy reaches down to the ground and lifted what appears to be a large mat, on top of which is soil and foliage. It is barely noticeable, but when the boy lifts the mat it reveals the opening of a small tunnel.
JEFF: I’m not going in there
CHARLIE: You don’t have a choice.
ATTICUS: Follow me.
The tunnel is in almost total darkness, but the two fugitives try to follow while stooped over as well as they can
After about thirty yards the young boy used a lamp to guide him.
JEFF: I don’t trust this guy (In a low voice)
CHARLIE: You don’t trust anybody Jeff. What could be worse than going back to the army base?
JEFF: He’s only a kid. It seems fishy to me. All alone in the middle of a forest next to an army base. Definitely fishy.
ATTICUS: Come with me (gesturing with his hand).
Eventually the boy comes to a stop and offers them some raw carrots and some apples
JEFF: I’m not eating that
CHARLIE: Can’t you just turn into a rabbit? Rabbits like carrots
JEFF: But Jeff doesn’t
ATTICUS: We can only leave the tunnel at nightfall. This is the only thing you will be able to eat for seven hours.
EXT. FARMHOUSE OUTSIDE CITY - NIGHT
At nightfall, the boy leads them to a small farm about two miles from the city. On this small farm they have cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and hens. The boy presses the doorbell.
An old woman answers the door and without saying a word she beckons all three of them into the cottage.
OLD WOMAN: 90 YEARS OLD, LONG WHITE HAIR TIED INTO A PONY TAIL, SLIM, WRINKLED, BLUE EYES, FIVE FOOT FOUR INCHES, SLIGHTLY HUNCHED OVER
OLD WOMAN: You must be starving (in a whisper)
CUT TO:
Plates filled with wholesome food in half light, the old lady sat down with them.
OLD WOMAN: Who are your two friends, Atticus?
ATTICUS: We haven’t had time to talk mam.
OLD WOMAN: This one looks familiar.You were in the news, weren’t you? I never forget a face. You were on the news just last week.
CHARLIE: My name is..
JEFF: Look lady. We appreciate the food, but we don’t trust you anymore than you trust us. Let’s keep it that way.
OLD WOMAN: Atticus here is such a wonderful young boy. You’re not the first people he has rescued. You are both very welcome here. My name is Wren. Wren Underwood. Myself and Jackson, my husband have been living here for more than fifty years. The last year has been the worst by far. These damned Reapers and that President of ours. I’d just like to ring their necks.
When you are finished Atticus can show you to the cellar where you can catch some much needed rest.In The morning Atticus can guide you to your final destination.
JEFF: Where is our final destination
OLD WOMAN: All will be revealed in time.
Atticus lifts a mat in the living room and opens a concealed door in the floor. A very steep, winding, wooden staircase is visible. The young boy leads the way. Atticus turns on a light. Two narrow wooden beds with mattresses and some bedclothes were visible. Beneath them is a wooded floor.
ATTICUS: I can take the floor. You both can take the beds.