The fact that I can’t sell a darn screenplay to anyone? I can’t sell one to an agent, a studio or an actor. When it comes to writing, I couldn’t sell fire wood to an Eskimo.
Since the separation between success and failure is a thin line of determination, I just keep persevering. Call me stupid? Call me mule-headed? Call me a blunt object of rolling adjectives.
Since this is a free web site there is no reason to sell you anything. In fact, I appreciate your eye balls looking over these words. Trust me when I say that. The fact that you people are reading this stuff does my heart good.
Below is a screen play I wrote a few years ago. Like all the rest, I finished it and put it in a box.
But I dragged out 20 pages or so for you to look at.
Read on friends.
Stars are thick in the sky like burning globs of paint splattered across a dark velvet canvas.
The expanse of the universe is at the doorstep of this moment as Medicine Man momentarily stops his arduous climb up the rugged bluff before him.
I’ve included the first act only because I started reading and I was digging it. Feel free to bail whenever you want; that’s what an agent would do….without further ado;
TIME ZONE
FADE IN:
EXT. DESERT — DAY
Heat waves shimmer off the arid desert floor. Iguana’s scurry between cactus and parched dirt as the sun relentlessly scorches the earth.
In the distance, a maximum security prison rises from the ground. It’s sleek gun turrets stretch high into the brilliant, blue cloudless sky.
On a hill overlooking the prison, a small contingent of media and protesters have gathered. The protesters are carrying candles, singing and holding signs with slogans for and against capital punishment.
Meanwhile, camera crews are scurrying back and forth getting interviews and pictures of the gathering. Several reporters are standing in front of their live trucks doing reports updating the scene.
DIANA, an attractive red head, wearing a large sun hat, is in the middle of such an update.
DIANA
That’s right Skip, we’re less than an hour away now from the execution of Jake Callan, a former special forces sniper turned mafia hit man.
Diana continues talking while pictures matching her report play on a tv monitor in front of her.
DIANA (V.O.)
As our viewers will remember, Callan was a highly decorated soldier in the army’s elite unit, the black flag. Then eight years ago, the mafia hired him to kill Senator Gus Biden. He was paid a million dollars to assassinate the senator because of his negative position on legalized gambling, and the threat that presented to the mob. Now after eight long years, Senator Biden’s family is here to watch Callan be electrocuted. Also scheduled to be on hand here today is the Governor as well as other high ranking members of the military who were deeply embarrassed by Callan’s deadly digressions.
The monitor fades from file footage and once again shows Diana live.
(continued)
DIANA
We’ll of course keep you posted on any further developments. Reporting live from K.K. Kolbey correctional facility, I’m Diana Hall. Back to you Skip.
INT. PRISON CELL — DAY
The prison cell is dark, illuminated by only a single light bulb overhead. A priest sits on a small stool praying in a hushed whisper as he reads from the bible and nervously fondles a crucifix.
JAKE CALLAN watches the priest intensely from his nearby cot. Callan is eerily calm, resting with his back against the wall. His face is hard and serious as his piercing eyes, never blinking, stare at the priest. Callan’s white face is scruffy and covered with numerous scars. Under Jake’s right eye is a small tattoo of a teardrop. On his forearms are various other tattoos including one of the Tasmanian Devil and one that says “Black Flag Forever”.
Callan listens to the priest for a moment more, then without moving his head, spits a long stream of tobacco juice against the wall. The priest momentarily stops as he looks up from his bible to see the filthy brown saliva oozing its way down the cinder block wall which has been stained brown from tobacco spit.
Just then, two beefy guards arrive at the cell. They stare for a moment, then one of the guards speaks.
GUARD #1
Let’s go Jake, Time to die!
A slow smile comes to Jake’s face as he slowly begins to get up.
JAKE
Damn, now I’ll never find out what happens to Jesus left hanging on that cross!
The guards unlock the door as Jake stands. Jake begins to leave, then turns and faces the jittery priest.
JAKE
Here ya go father, something to remember me by.
Jake pulls the plug of tobacco from his lips and places it in the priest’s hands. The priest looks horrified.
PRIEST
May God have mercy on your soul.
3.
CONTINUED:
Jake is smiling fiendishly as he begins to exit the cell.
JAKE
What god?
EXT. DESERT — DAY
An old pickup truck drives slowly along the dirt road overlooking the prison. Because of all the protesters, media and other vehicles, the truck is forced to drive slowly. After a short distance the vehicle stops.
JIMMY BLACK HAWK gets out. He is a middle aged Indian wearing a blue jean outfit and boots. Jimmy has long braided salt and pepper hair from which dangles one lone black hawk feather.
Jimmy’s leather tough skin wrinkles angrily as he watches the media circus kick up a giant dust cloud in the distant. Jimmy goes to the back of the truck, which is filled with hand painted signs and strange looking Indian grave markers.
He bangs the sign into the loose dirt, scowls at the trespassers, then gets back in his truck and drives away.
EXT. PRISON — DAY
Several military style jeeps drive up and stop at the main gate of the prison. A waiting group of reporters and photographers surround the lead jeep and begin asking questions.
DIANA
Governor, have you even considered pardoning Callan?
GOVERNOR SANFORD EDMUNDSON chuckles slightly. The governor is a balding middle aged man wearing a suit and glasses.
Considered. Maybe for a moment, but then I think back on all the evil the man’s responsible for and notions of clemency quickly leave my mind.
GOVERNOR
I think of kind souls like Senator Biden’s widow who had her life ripped apart by this cruel executioner.
4.
CONTINUED:
The media focus their cameras on Mrs. Biden, asking her for a comment.
She pauses, then, in a scratchy emotional voice, she replies.
I’m here to watch a dog die for his crimes against humanity.
Members of the press seem shocked at Mrs. Biden’s reply. They try to ask a follow up question, but the prison gate opens and the lead jeep begins to move forward. The press quickly turn their attention to the second jeep which they momentarily stop.
CAPTAIN DEXTER DOLAN looks thru mirrored sunglasses at the media horde before him. Dolan is serious and tough, wearing a commando style jump suit and beret on his black, shaven head. Dolan’s uniform is covered with patches and decorations from the army’s black flag unit.
Diana, and the other media shove their microphones at Dolan.
DIANA
Captain Dolan, you were Callan’s commander in the black flag unit, what’s your comment on one of your own now on the threshold of death?
Diana is disgusted as she stares at the soiled tissue in her hand. She suddenly notices that the entire group of photographers is focusing on the tissue.
DIANA
Give me a break you vultures!
EXT. DESERT — DAY
A rusty old trailer sits in the middle of a dirty, disheveled front yard. Old appliances and a junk car litter the property.
5.
INT. TRAILER — DAY
The trailer is dark and dingy, illuminated only by a tv which shows the live reports outside the prison. Clothes and beer cans are everywhere. The walls are decorated with diplomas, air force commendations as well as numerous articles and pictures of U.F.O’s.
DR. PETE ZIMELLI is sitting at a small table in the kitchen. Pete is a white man wearing ripped clothes. His dirty hair flows over his shoulders. His beard is unkempt.
Suddenly the microwave timer goes off. Pete grabs his empty whiskey glass and shakily stands. He opens the oven door and pulls out two sizzling slim jim beef sticks. He takes a bite, then moves to the freezer. He chips off some ice stuck to the inside of the freezer and dumps it into the glass.
He notices a manila folder buried under ice trays and frozen dinners inside the freezer. He pulls the icy folder out and stares at it.
P.O.V. PETE — FLASH BACK.
Inside Pete’s flash back, there are bright electrified colors, which give way to a darkened Forest filled with bright lights and smoke. Suddenly there is an alien space craft with the door open. A clean shaven Pete moves up the ramp into a sterile room. He is silently greeted by large headed aliens. They are standing around an illuminated console with the glowing symbol of a circle and three inverted triangles below it. Suddenly the door to the space craft closes. Pete silently screams and tries to escape. He is unable to as the aliens close in around him.
INT. TRAILER — DAY
Pete drops his whiskey glass on the floor. It shatters. Whiskey spills everywhere. Pete slowly opens his eyes and stares at himself in the small mirror over the sink. He is sweaty and nervous as he moves his long straggly hair, revealing a mark on the side of his neck. It is the symbol of the circle and the three inverted triangles. The mark is small, a cross between a tattoo and a birth mark.
(CONTINUED)
6.
CONTINUED:
Pete slides down the cabinets to the floor. He is sitting in the spilled whiskey and broken glass.
INT. PRISON — DAY
The guards are walking Jake through a gauntlet of cells. Prisoners have pushed their faces into the bars to get a better look, as they rhythmically bang items against the steel.
As the trio approach one cell, Jake slows and looks at ZITO, a muscled, bald headed prisoner with tattoos of satan on his skull. Zito is wearing a cross and clutching a bible. Seeing Jake, Zito begins orating aloud.
ZITO
As the aroma of your electrified flesh fills the halls of my eternity, we will pray for you Jake Callan. Pray that your festering soul finds the spirit of the wind cool beneath it’s talons.
JAKE
Let’s go gentlemen, I’d rather go french kiss those ten thousand volts than listen to that horsecrap!
ZITO
May your death open a portal to a new plane of existence Jake Callan.
Zito laughs dementedly, as he begins spinning around his jail cell in an ever increasing furry.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
A black helicopter with no identifying marks flies low along the desert floor.
INT. BLACK HELICOPTER — DAY
The chopper is piloted by SARAN MAXWELL a.k.a. MAX. She is dressed in a black flight suit, glasses and a cap. She is attractive and athletically built. The chopper is loaded with several large duffel bags filled with supplies and automatic weapons.
(CONTINUED)
7.
CONTINUED:
Max spots a herd of wild stallions racing along the desert floor. She buzzes over the top of them with a smile on her face.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
Jimmy Black Hawk stops in a remote stretch of desert surrounded by an outcropping of rocks, and numerous hand painted signs. Jimmy gets out of the truck and inspects the home made signs which have been hammered into the dry desert floor.
Jimmy begins to fix some of the grave markers, when suddenly the solitude is broken by the roar of motorcycles and dune buggy’s which are heading right at him. Dust and debris are flying as Jimmy nervously presses himself against the side of his truck.
After a moment, the “off-roaders” are gone. The dust cloud subsides, and a beer can rolls to the feet of Jimmy who angrily stares at the desecrated burial ground and broken grave markers. Jimmy drops to his knees. Tears are welling in his eyes. He grabs a handful of soil, and looks to the sky. As he lets the loose dirt slip through his fingers, he screams at the top of his lungs in anger.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
The dark helicopter races along, scooting over the top of cactus and low lying rock formations.
INT. BLACK HELICOPTER — DAY
Inside the chopper, Max checks her watch, then looks up at the prison in the distance.
EXT. PRISON EXERCISE YARD — DAY
Jake and the guards have emerged on the far end of the exercise yard. A hundred yards away, is a small, brick building. Below the building’s archway, a small group of dignitaries and family members are waiting.
One of the guards points at the building and waiting group.
GUARD #1
Well Callan, there’s where you get deep fried boy!
GUARD #2
Yep, right in that building is where they’re gonna throw the switch “n” barbeque your ass. And all those people is gonna get to watch!
CONTINUED:
JAKE
Kind of exciting, isn’t it?
GUARD #1
We’ll see how cocky you are, when them volts rip through your skin, tearin your toe nails clean off and popping your eye balls out their sockets like a blood swollen mosquitoe hitting a car windshield on the highway.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
Up on the hill, the media has spotted Jake in the far end of the exercise yard. Their cameras zoom in on the felon as he begins his long walk across the compound. Diana and the other reporters are doing live reports as the events unfold. The monitor in front of Diana shows her what the camera is seeing.
DIANA
Yes, we can see him now Skip. That is Jake Callan, who is making the final march toward the execution chamber. As you can see he is accompanied by two armed guards. There is no emotion on his face that we can see at this point. He looks cool and somehow relaxed.
The cameras pan over to the building. They zoom in to Mrs. Biden who watches Jake approach.
Meanwhile, there is a live shot of Betty Biden. Widow of Former Senator, Gus Biden, who of course was assasinated by Callan. According to all published reports, this is the first time that Mrs. Biden will see Jake Callan since the sentencing hearing eight years ago.
INT. TRAILER — DAY
Pete is drunk, sitting in front of the tv, watching the live report. On the table in front of him are pictures from the file. As he watches, he plays with the gun spinning the chamber over and over again.
EXT. PRISON EXERCISE YARD — DAY
Dolan is among the quiet group by the execution chamber. He is glaring intently as Jake and the guards draw closer. Dolan slowly moves his hand to his side arm, feeling it, making sure it’s there.
(CONTINUED)
9.
CONTINUED:
Mrs. biden, who is standing beside Dolan, notices. She wipes a tear from her eye, and speaks in a hushed tone.
MRS. BIDEN
Relax Mr. Dolan. In fifteen minutes that son of a bitch who stole part of my life will be dead!
Dolan sneezes. His face doesn’t change. He wipes his nose with a Kleenex .
God bless you!
Dolan acknowledges her by nodding his head slightly. Mrs. Biden looks at him anxiously, then to the approaching figure of Callan.
INT. CAVE — DAY
Jimmy black Hawk is in a small cave in a cliff above the Soocheenee burial grounds. Jimmy is sitting in front of a small fire. His eyes are closed as he mumbles inaudibly in a strange indian dialect. Periodically he tosses small handfuls of powder into the flame which brightly burn flourescent colors.
This flickering fire light illuminates ancient cave drawings that have been carved into the rock wall beside him. The pictures are ornately detailed, depicting indian culture and strange U.F.O symbolism, including the circle with the three inverted triangles below it.
Jimmy’s chant has grown more intense as he rocks back and forth.
P.O.V. JIMMY BLACK HAWK — VISION
The entrance to the cave is filled with sporadic flashes of color and light. The wind is swirling as a dark shadowy figure emerges through the brilliance. The silloute of the being is frightening as it approaches Jimmy, still sitting beside the fire. Soon the light of the flames illuminate the figure. It is an Ancient Indian medicine man. He silently stands before Jimmy. The medicine man is covered with war paint, animal skins and feathers. His face is completely concealed by a large oval mask which looks like the figures inscribed on the cave wall. The mask is painted white with large eyes and a small nose and mouth. As the wind and color swirl around the cave, Jimmy stoically pulls out an amulet around his neck. The amulet is made of a strange colorful metal that is shaped like the symbol of the circle with the three inverted triangles below it. Jimmy holds the amulet toward the medicine man, who reciprocates, showing Jimmy a similar amulet. As the two Indians stare at one another, the wind grows strangely wild, blowing out the flames of the fire.
INT. CAVE — DAY
Suddenly Jimmy opens his eyes. All is calm. The fire is burning and the light from the outside is pouring into the mouth of the cave. As in his dream, Jimmy is still holding his amulet in his extended hand.
EXT. PRISON EXERCISE YARD — DAY
Tv cameras zoom in as Jake approaches the gathering of family members and dignitaries. Many in the crowd appear uneasy as Jake casually stops before them with a smirk on his scruffy face.
Mrs. Biden stares at Jake quietly. She is shaking with rage as tears stream down her cheeks. After a moment, she verbally explodes.
MRS. BIDEN
I hope you rot in hell you murdering son-of-a-bitch!
Jake focuses in on Mrs. Biden. His smirk becomes even more exaggerated.
JAKE
I’ll say hi to your husband when I get there.
Mrs. Biden bursts into tears, suddenly trying to lash out at Jake. Dolan quickly restrains her. Jake laughs. The cameras on the hill capture it all.
Jake turns his attention to Dolan.
JAKE
Well, well well. If it isn’t my old pal, Captain Dolan. So nice of you to attend this special farewell party.
DOLAN
It’d be more special if I was the one throwing the switch.
JAKE
There’s the Dolan I remember. Always a sun shiny face and soft shoulder to cry on.
Jake grows intensely mad.
JAKE
What’s the matter, Dolan. You upset cause I sold my talents to a higher bidder than Uncle Sam?
DOLAN
You sold out your country, your squad members. The Black Flag itself.
CONTINUED:
JAKE
I gave everything to the cause. My life, my soul. And for what? What did the Black Flag ever give me. Nothing but pain and lonliness. So I enterprised a little, hired myself out. It’s the American way, Captain.
DOLAN
We killed for a cause, for our country. Not for profit or personal gain.
JAKE
You still don’t get it Dolan. You’re still as weak and worthless as I remember you.
DOLAN
I should have killed you when I had the chance in Angola. Would have saved the tax payers a lot of money if I had.
JAKE
You never had the guts Captain. It takes a special man who can stare a human being in the eyes, then reach down into that dark place that gives one the power to pull the trigger that can extinguish life.
DOLAN
You’re sick, Callan! I’m going to enjoy watching you die.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
The media are zoomed in to Jake. Diana, is in the middle of her live report.
DIANA
This is a truly bizare moment, Skip. I don’t know what’s being said down there, but Callan is now staring at the sky with his arms extended. It’s as if he’s making his last peace here on Earth.
12.
EXT. PRISON EXERCISE YARD — DAY
One of the guards suddenly grabs hold of Jake’s shoulder and begins to push him toward the entrance of the building.
GUARD #1
Come on meat, it’s show time.
Suddenly the guard’s back is ripped open as he is jerked violently forward by some unseen force. As the guard falls dead to the ground, a voluminous curtain of wind, dust and noise sweep over the yard.
Jake seizes the opportunity, grabbing the automatic weapon from the other guard. With barely a blink of an eye, Jake holds the barrel of the gun under the guard’s chin and pulls the trigger.
There is pandemonium as the gathering looks around in shock. Dolan grabs his pistol and takes a protective crouch. He yells for the others to get down, but in the confusion, no one hears him. Dolan tries to pull Mrs. Biden down, but she steps away before he can grab her.
Mrs. Biden is emotional as she shouts at Jake.
MRS. BIDEN
What the hell do you think you’re doing?
JAKE
(satisfied)
De ja Vu! bitch!
Dolan dodges bullets, then lets loose a volley of gunfire toward Jake’s quickly vanishing form. As Dolan begins to scramble forward to give chase, he suddenly sees the eerie form of the dark chopper, hovering low over the compound. Dolan gets on his radio.
DOLAN
All units. Take out that chopper
Tower guards open fire.
INT. BLACK HELICOPTER — DAY
EXT. PRISON EXERCISE YARD — DAY
The yard is filled with noise, smoke and swirling dust. Through it all, Jake is sprinting, firing wildly at any resistence in his path.
Dolan shouts at the others to stay low as he scrambles forward into the dust cloud ahead.
The chopper quickly descends toward Jake who is shooting blindly through the haze. When it gets close enough, he jumps in. The chopper quickly accelerates upward.
INT. BLACK HELICOPTER — DAY
Sitting in the passenger seat, Jake leans out the window. He now has a much larger weapon in his hands. As the chopper passes a guard tower, he takes aim and fires several explosive rounds into the side of the building. It explodes violently, as guards are propelled over the side.
EXT. PRISON EXERCISE YARD — DAY
Dolan is in the center of the yard firing up at the chopper which is rapidly getting away. Dolan shoots till his gun is empty. He is furious.
DOLAN
Crap!
Dolan screams into his radio.
DOLAN
I want a chopper in the air in ninety seconds. Call up the Mexicans, see about an intercept platoon from the south.
He is angry.
The chopper is sailing rapidly toward the hill. Every camera is trained on the fleeing helicopter as reporters frantically do their reports.
INT. BLACK HELICOPTER — DAY
Jake leans over and kisses Max on the cheek.
(CONTINUED)
14.
CONTINUED:
JAKE
Watch this doll.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
Protesters carrying signs and candles scramble for cover as bullets rain down from the sky. A satellite truck is hit, equipment explodes.
Some photographers abandon mounted cameras and run for cover. Meanwhile, other photographers run wildly, some falling on their expensive cameras. Reporters wearing suits dive into the mud and under trailers to escape the barrage of bullets.
Several monitors at the scene show the pandemonium still being broadcast live to the world. One of the monitors hooked up to a remote camera shows the bouncy, frantic footage as that photographer runs for his life with his camera by his side.
INT. BLACK HELICOPTER — DAY
Jake is laughing as the helicopter zooms away.
JAKE
Thanks for the ride, doll. I haven’t had this much fun since Nicaragua.
INT. TRAILER — DAY
Pete is fondling his whiskey glass as he watches the live report of the helicopter disappearing toward the horizon.
INT. CAVE — DAY
Inside the cave, Jimmy Black Hawk has surrounded himself with candles and odd looking crystals. He is in a trance as he sways back and forth.
INT. BLACK HELICOPTER — DAY
Max hands Jake a map. She smiles lovingly at him.
MAX
Relax honey. In ten minutes, we’ll be over the border in Mexican air space. Then we can make up for eight years of lost loving.
Jake listens, but is busily looking behind and above him for following air craft.
(CONTINUED)
15.
CONTINUED:
JAKE
Yeah, well we got complications. Dolan was there. And you can bet he knows where we’re headed.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
A military chopper is speeding over the desert floor in pursuit.
INT. MILITARY CHOPPER — DAY
Dolan is in the passenger seat of the air craft. He is on the radio, barking out orders.
DOLAN
You make sure that Southern border is secure you got it. If Callan gets in country, he’ll disappear among the natives and he’ll be gone.
DOLAN
What do you got?
PILOT
This radar loop is patched in to nearby McGillis Air Base. I’ve calibrated it to show us anything in the air from here to the border. Here’s us back here. The flashing dot in front of us is Callan. Moving at us in the other direction, these two registrations are the intercept choppers you called for. Way I got it figured, we should all meet at Callan’s bird in two minutes, eighteen seconds.
Dolan points to a fifth blip on the screen.
DOLAN
What’s this fifth blip, right on top of us?
DOLAN
What the….
16.
INT. TRAILER — DAY
Pete is peering out his window, looking up in the sky. He watches as Jake’s helicopter zooms overhead.
Meanwhile, the live helicopter chase scene is being shown live on tv. The camera zooms in as Dolan leans out the window with his hand gun. There’s a nasty sneer on his face.
REPORTER (V.O.)
He’s got a gun. He’s pointing a gun at us! Watch out!
Pete’s face grows intense as he whispers to himself.
PETE
Dolan!
The media chopper suddenly slows, moving out of firing range. The camera man continues videotaping.
INT. MILITARY CHOPPER — DAY
Dolan sees the Media chopper pull back. He laughs out loud.
DOLAN
Media idiots. I’d just as soon shoot them.
PILOT
Intercept in one minute, fifty three seconds.
Jimmy’s trance has intensified. He is vigorously rubbing the symbolic amulet around his neck with his thumb and forefinger. Outside the cave, the skies have grown dark as the wind blows fiercely.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
Pete is standing outside his trailer. He is shielding his eyes, as a dark storm cloud begins to violently blow debris against his home.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
The skies are darkening. Jake’s helicopter zooms by. Dolan’s chopper is gaining.
17.
INT. MILITARY CHOPPER — DAY
PILOT
We’re closing on them. Intercept, one minute twenty five seconds.
Jake is furiously locking and loading an arsenal of weapons from automatic machine guns to futuristic rocket launchers. Jake looks edgy as he continually checks the sky for trouble.
Max is concerned.
MAX
What’s wrong?
JAKE
Dolan; he’s out there. He knows we’re going for Mexico.
MAX
He was your superior officer eight years ago, he’s a military dweeb, not some kind of super psychic. Relax. We’re almost there.
JAKE
That’s right, we’re almost there, so Listen to me! When they get in our way, and they most certainly will try and get in our way. You fly this bitch right down their throats. Don’t alter your course, just fly.
Max looks anxious as Jake moves to the open chopper window and thrusts his gun outside. He growls as he searches the sky talking to himself.
JAKE
Bring it on Dolan. I got a hot metal enema I’m gonna blow right up your ass.
Jake opens fire shooting at the clouds.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
The storm outside the cliff has intensified. It is begining to form into a massive swirling cloud that stretches from the desert floor into the darkening sky. Periodically bursts of colorized lightning appear.
18.
INT. BLACK HELICOPTER — DAY
Max is having trouble keeping the chopper under control. She is fighting with the control stick. A look of concern comes over her face.
MAX
Something’s wrong. Lots of turbulence suddenly.
Jake looks behind him and sees Dolan’s closing chopper. He looks wild as he aims his gun at them.
JAKE
Just fly sweetheart. Just fly.
INT. MILITARY CHOPPER — DAY
A bullet ricochets off the chopper. The pilot becomes agitated. Dolan doesn’t blink an eye as he stares forward.
PILOT
That maniac is shooting at us. I’m going high to his port side, that should cut down on the bullets.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
Jake angrily looks back as Dolan’s pursuit copter shifts its position slightly out of range.
INT. BLACK HELICOPTER — DAY
Jake resumes his position in the co-pilot’s chair. He is angry. He looks at Max who is holding onto the control stick with both hands. She is nervous, struggling to keep the badly shaking copter aloft.
INT. MILITARY CHOPPER — DAY
Dolan’s chopper has also begun to experience the tremendous turbulence. The pilot is working feverishly to keep control.
Dolan looks down at the radar screen, suddenly seeing a massive blip directly in front of Jake’s chopper.
DOLAN
What the hell is that?
PILOT
I don’t know, but it’s huge, and it’s coming right at us.
19.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
Directly in front of Jake’s chopper is the massive swirling vortex cloud. Like a collosal sky scraper it rises from the desert floor, reaching a mile into the sky. The dark, electrified wind looks almost like a solid barrier as the vortex continues to grow.
INT. BLACK HELICOPTER — DAY
Max, still fighting with the controls, stares wide eyed at the gigantic darkening vortex cloud before them.
Jake nervously stares at the storm ahead and then at Dolan’s chopper behind. He quickly leans out the window, firing off several rounds.
Max begins to veer the chopper away from the vortex. Jake quickly grabs her hands and stops her. Max is shaking with fear.
MAX
What are you crazy. We can’t fly through that. We’ll die.
JAKE
I just did eight years hard time. I’m not going back.
MAX
But that storm, we’ll crash!
JAKE
Then we crash.
INT. MILITARY CHOPPER — DAY
The pilot is fighting to keep the chopper steady. He also is fearful as he sees the massive vortex cloud enveloping the sky and desert around them.
PILOT
Jesus Christ! It’s armegedon.
DOLAN
It’s a storm cloud. And if Callan flies into it, so do we.
PILOT
That’s not a real good idea, Captain.
DOLAN
It’s not an idea, Lieutenant. It’s an order.
20.
INT. CAVE — DAY
Jimmy’s trance continues. Wind and dust blow around him. The fierce storm outside the cave has blotted out the sun. Except for an eerie, unexplained glow from the amulet and crystals on the ground, all is dark. Jimmy continues his barely audible chant.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
Jake’s chopper has almost reached the vortex cloud. Wind, and noise are tremendous. The chopper is experiencing intense turbulence.
INT. BLACK HELICOPTER — DAY
Max and Jake are being tossed around in their seats, as Max does everything in her power to keep the craft airborn.
MAX
Jake, please, please. Let me go around it. It’s the only way.
Jake stares at her menacingly.
JAKE
Max, I love you. But you veer away and I’ll kill you. This is a Dolan trick to get us to turn back.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
Two Mexican helicopters are flying toward the vortex from the other direction.
INT. MEXICAN HELICOPTER — DAY
The mexican pilots are also experiencing tremendous turbulence. Suddenly bullets rip off the front of the chopper and shatter the front windshield. One of the pilots is hit. The other pilot screams in Spanish as his chopper suddenly crashes into the ground.
INT. MILITARY CHOPPER — DAY
Dolan listens as the Mexican chopper goes down. Before he can say anything, the pilot nervously points ahead. Dolan watches as Jake’s chopper enters the vortex.
INT. BLACK HELICOPTER — DAY
Max is screaming. Jake is firing wildly. They are surrounded by dark clouds, and violent bursts of colorized energy. Suddenly, there is a cracking sound and brilliant flash of white light.
21.
INT. MILITARY CHOPPER — DAY
The pilot watches in horror as Jake’s chopper is devoured by the vortex, disappearing in its dark swirling energy. The pilot suddenly pulls back on the stick, rearing the helicopter backward away from the storm cloud. Dolan is incensed that the pilot would break off the pursuit.
INT. CAVE — DAY
Jimmy suddenly wakes from his trance. He groggily stands and stumbles to the mouth of the cave. He sees the once massive storm cloud quickly thinning and eventually disappearing in a rush of escaping wind.
Jimmy looks up to see Dolan’s military chopper hovering over the desert floor. Several hundred yards to the South, a Mexican chopper also hovers where the vortex, just moments ago, had been.
Jimmy somberly looks down at the amulet he is delicately holding between his fingers.
INT. MILITARY CHOPPER — DAY
Dolan glares at the thin veil of the vortex as it disappears. He sees the Mexican intercept chopper on the other side. He sees the other Mexican helicopter on the ground in flames. He quickly gets on his radio.
JAKE
Any sign of Callan?
RADIO (V.O)
(Mexican accent)
No aircraft emerged through the phenomenon Captain.
PILOT
Just in time for the six o’clock news huh?
EXT. DESERT — DAY
A short distance away, Pete stands outside his trailer. He watches the three helicopters hovering in the sky. After a moment he glances down at his wrist watch. The second hand is not moving. He flicks it with his finger. It suddenly begins moving. A look of realization crosses his face as he rubs the strange symbol on his neck.
22.
INT. MILITARY CHOPPER — DAY
Dolan and the pilot are staring out the windows looking below them. The pilot is shaking his head.
PILOT
Man that’s weird. What the hell do you think that is sir?
DOLAN
It’s nothing Lieutenant. Just a random sand formation.
DOLAN
I want a dozen chopppers up in the air now. I want the Southern border sealed off. I want ground crews to turn over every rock and look in ever nook and cranny. That son-of-a-bitch isn’t getting away.
EXT. DESERT — DAY
An over head view shows the three choppers hovering over a massive charred section of earth. The charred soil in the tan dirt forms a giant symbol of the the circle and three inverted triangles.