1 PAGE ONE 1
A BLACK PANEL, HIGHLIGHTED BY WHITE TEXT.
CAPTION My sights fall on a figure, I take a breath,
A FIGURE STANDS STUDDED IN RED FUTURISTIC ARMOR IN A LONG HALLWAY, WITH LARGE BLURRY SIGHTS HOVERING OVER HIS HEART.
CAPTION I pull the trigger. I exhale. Game Over.
THE RED ARMORED FIGURE APPEARS TO BE DISSOLVING, A BLUE MARK WHERE HE WAS HIT AND A LOOK OF UTTER SHOCK ON THE FIGURE’S FACE.
2 PAGE TWO 2
A FEW SILHOUETTED FIGURES HOVER OVER SOME MONITORS. ONE OF THE SILHOUETTES PULLS A HEADSET OFF OF HIS HEAD AND THROWS IT TO THE GROUND, ANOTHER IS STANDING SIDEWAYS, HEAD DOWN, ARMS FOLDED.
ONE OF THE SILHOUETTES SPEAKS TO NO ONE.
SILHOUETTE 1 Shit!
THE SILHOUETTED FIGURE WALKS DOWN A FRONT LIT HALL. SHE THROWS DOWN A CLIPBOARD.
THE FIGURE AGAIN SPEAKS TO NO ONE AT ALL.
SILHOUETTE 1 What the hell was that? Why did he wait? Someone track down James. I’m gonna kick his ass.
3 PAGE THREE 3
Full page spread. The figure walks into a brightly lit stadium, a maze-like arena in the center, surrounded by thousands of people in the stands, the source of a cacophonous roar.
2.
4 PAGE FOUR 4
HE APPROACHES A WALL OF A MAN, COVERED IN DARK BLUE COAT OF FUTURISTIC ARMOR.
ALANA Are you trying to give me a heart attack? Do you think that was funny?
THE MAN COVERED IN BLUE ARMOR, A STEELY EYED TITAN IN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING HIS HELMET, RESPONDS.
JAMES I didn’t have the shot.
ALANA Now you’re just trying to be funny. You hesitated.
JAMES I didn’t have the shot.
ALANA (erupting) I SEE WHAT YOU SEE JAMES! YOU HAD THE SHOT.
A MAN APPROACHES THEM FROM THE SIDE. HE IS ALSO DRESSED IN BLUE ARMOR, HE RUNS UP TO JOIN THEM. HE REMOVES HIS HELMET, HIS LONG HAIR ESCAPES FROM INSIDE, DANGLING AROUND HIM.
TAYLOR Hell yeah! Good shot James! I thought we were fragged there at the end.
ALANA STORMS OFF AS WE FOLLOW JAMES TO THE SIDE OF THE STADIUM. HE PUTS UP A PEACE SIGN INTO THE AIR AND THE CROWD ERUPTS IN APPLAUSE.
TAYLOR I was talking to Johnson and we’re thinking of hitting up the Database after this, you down?
JAMES I’ll stop by for a minute.
TAYLOR SLAPS JAMES ON THE BACK OF HIS ARMOR, AND TURNS AND RUNS OFF, PUMPING HIS FIST IN THE AIR TOWARDS THE ADORATION OF THE CROWD. JAMES WALKS CLOSER TO THE FANS AND GRABS SOME HELMETS FROM THE CROWD AND SIGNS THEM.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.
FAN 1 Oh my god! I love you James! You fragged those noobs so hard! Sign my helmet please!
JAMES Here you go kid.
5 PAGE FIVE 5
ALANA STORMS DOWN THE HALL, A MAN WITH A HEADSET FOLLOWS CLOSE BEHIND.
PILEGGI Hey, uhm, Rick just called. He wants to talk to James.
ALANA GIVES HIM A SHARP LOOK.
PILEGGI He sounded pretty upset.
ALANA CONTINUES DOWN THE CORRIDOR, TAKING A SHARP RIGHT INTO A ...
6 PAGE SIX 6
A LARGE LOCKER ROOM AT NIGHT. THERE ARE TELEVISIONS IN EVERY CORNER. A FEMALE REPORTER WANDERS THROUGHOUT. ABOUT THIRTY MEN AND WOMEN ARE CHANGING OUT OF THEIR ARMOR. THE BLUE HUE OF THE ARMOR IS DARK, LIKE IT HAS BEEN POWERED DOWN.
STEWART Hey Boss! You look red, you doing ok?
THE TEAM IS SILHOUETTED, WITH ALANA FACING THEM
ALANA Thank you Stewart, I’m fine. Good game people. What went wrong?
JOHNSON Sorry Boss, I was taking a lot of hits, thought I could hold out.
ALANA Not your fault Johnson, that award goes to...
SIRTIS Sorry Alana.
THE TEAM IS NOW SILHOUETTED, FACING ALANA.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.
ALANA Just get there faster next time Sirtis. The blackout came at a really bad time. And HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU, STAY IN FORMATION STEWART! You have to keep that shield over everybody! Come on folks, this is Stanford skill here! Rick could keep that together!
THE TEAM LAUGHS AGAIN. ALANA IS FACING ONE OF THE FEMALE TEAMMATES, A YOUNG TURKISH WOMAN WITH A HEAVY BUILD.
SIRITIS You talk to the big guy Alana?
ALANA You know I don’t kiss and tell Sirtis.
SIRTIS Come on, the nets already buzzing.
ALANA We all know it was big. Where’s the Bee?
TAYLOR He’s talking to Rebecca.
ALANA WHAT?!
7 PAGE SEVEN 7
ALANA STORMS OUT OF THE ROOM, TURNS DOWN A HALL.
ALANA Shut your mouth! Back away from him, shrew.
PILEGGI, A TALL ITALIAN MAN, IS TALKING TO A SHORT RED HEADED WOMAN, WHO IS GRILLING HIM FOR INFORMATION.
PILEGGI Like I said Rebecca, we don’t comment on rumors. We’ve heard the same reports, and it’s all just forum nonsense. The logs are all there, and we do internal record keeping, there’s nothing going on.
THE WOMAN GETS CLOSER IN TO HIS FACE.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.
REBECCA I have an annonymous source that says...
ALANA BEE, QUIT YOUR BUZZING! I don’t care what DeadPixel has to say!
ALANA SHEPERDS PILEGGI DOWN THE HALL.
PILEGGI Alana, she ambushed me.
ALANA Shut up! You, how did you get in here?
REBECCA James invited me.
ALANA Bullshit he did.
REBECCA It’s true.
ALANA Well then James and I are going to have to have a little chat.
REBECCA Well Alana, what do you think of James’ hesitation?
ALANA I don’t know what you’re talking about.
REBECCA He hesitated in the last few moments before he took the shot. What do you think was going on there?
ALANA Honestly Rebecca, I don’t know, I haven’t reviewed the videos of the game yet. Even if he did, I don’t think it’s in either of our professional descriptions to accurately comment on his mental state at the time.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.
REBECCA So, there was possibility of an altered mental state?
ALANA No, stop that. I... I hate reporters.
REBECCA That’s your official statement?
ALANA No comment.
8 PAGE EIGHT 8
ALANA’S OFFICE. ALANA APPROACHES A WALL SIZED TELEVISION. SHE TURNS IT ON AND SPEAKS WITH SOMEONE.
ALANA Hello, Rick.
RICK Hello, Alana. I saw the game tonight.
ALANA Of course you did. You wanted to chat?
RICK Actually, I wanted to speak to James. He seems, troubled. Is there something you want to tell me?
ALANA What do you want to tell him, Rick?
A CLOSE UP OF THE MONITOR WITH RICKS FACE ON IT. HIS GLASSES OBSCURE HIS EYES.
RICK Alana, I’m not trying to infringe on anything here, I’m just curious about the performance of my star player.
ALANA Rick, cut the bullshit, leave him alone.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.
RICK I’m sorry?
ALANA You can’t talk to him.
9 PAGE NINE 9
AN EVEN CLOSER VIEW OF RICKS EYES.
RICK Well that’s an interesting development. I would think that since I own the very floor you walk on and every single other thing you interact with in that building that I might have the ability to have a small chat with a dear old friend of mine.
ALANA What do you want to ask him?
RICK Alana, I understand the desire to protect your players, they are close to you-
ALANA SWEEPS HER HAND ACROSS HER CHEST AND LEANS FORWARD, SHOUTING.
ALANA And you have to respect that these people have to rely on me to protect them from a lot of things, and I would HOPE, that would be from stupid mistakes on the arena floor. It was 8 seconds Rick, you need to back off and let me take care of it! If you cannot let me take care of these things I will go somewhere else!
A SILHOUETTE OF ALANA STANDING IN FRONT OF RICK’S MONITOR.
RICK Okay. I can see that this is a hot issue for you. If you would just pass this along, I would be very thankful. Tell him, I’ve always been interested in his well being. In and out of the arena.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.
ALANA That’s it? Well, Christ. I thought you we’re gonna grill him.
RICK FOLDS HIS HANDS IN FRONT OF HIS FACE.
RICK Well, now, what does that say?
ALANA SWITCHES OF THE SCREEN.
ALANA Goodnight Rick.
10 PAGE TEN 10
SHOWERS- JAMES SHOWERS IN SILENCE. ALANA ENTERS THE ROOM
ALANA Seven point nine seconds.
JAMES I’m sorry?
ALANA You just hovered there.
JAMES TOWELS OFF HIS HEAD. HE LOOKS ANNOYED.
JAMES Don’t start with me Alana.
ALANA What’s going on?
JAMES Nothing.
ALANA That’s how games get lost.
JAMES I was being thorough.
ALANA IS LEANING ON THE WALL, HAND ON HER HIP.
ALANA You are the king of being thorough, James. You could be thorough in your sleep.
JAMES TURNS HIS HEAD TO THE SIDE AND SIGHS.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.
JAMES When did this stop being fun...
ALANA GETS CLOSER TO HIM, CLIPBOARD IN ONE HAND, HER OTHER ARM OUTSTRETCHED.
ALANA This is serious. Do I need to find another Captain? Are you having a mental breakdown or something?
JAMES EXPLODES. HIS HANDS IN THE AIR.
JAMES I was distracted! It was less than eight seconds! I’m not allowed eight seconds?! Why are we even talking about eight seconds! Of all people Alana, I thought you still actually enjoyed this game.
11 PAGE ELEVEN 11
ALANA POINTS AT THE TV IN THE LOCKER ROOM, WHICH HANGS IN THE CORNER.
ALANA Grrrhhh. I DO! But these are how rumors start, this is how we get the news cycle hovering over three seconds for weeks! This is how pictures wind up on the blogs!
JAMES LOOKS STUNNED. TOWEL HANGING AROUND HIS NECK.
JAMES I cannot believe you.
ALANA I’m sorry, that was, I’m sorry, but this is tough for me. What am I supposed to tell the Boss? Huh?
JAMES MAKES AIRQUOTES WITH HIS HANDS.
JAMES Twenty seven point eight. That’s the instants. 27.8 million. Rebecca told me. So you can tell "the Boss" whatever you want. You’ll get your raise. I’m going to the Database. I have people I have to see.
ALANA IS SEEN DOWN A LONG HALL.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.
ALANA I’m not doing this to try to hurt you! I’m trying to protect you!
JAMES WALKS AWAY, LEAVING.
JAMES No Alana, you’re trying to protect yourself. oh, and tell "The Boss" to stay out of my head.
12 PAGE TWELVE 12
JAMES APPROACHES "THE DATABASE" A COCKTAIL LOUNGE A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE STADIUM. THE SIGN DISPLAYING THE BUSINESS’S NAME OUTSIDE THE NEON-LIT BUILDING IS A STARK AND COLD FONT.
THE DATABASE, AS SEEN FROM JAMES PERSPECTIVE.
A REVERSE OF THE SCENE, LOOKING AT JAMES WITH HIS EYES CLOSED TIGHT.
AGAIN, FROM JAMES PERSPECTIVE WE SEE THE DATABASE SIGN AND IT IS SHIMMERING AND FADING IN AND OUT, FLICKERING WITH COLOR. THERE IS A HUD PROJECTED ON HIS EYES WHICH DISPLAYS READOUTS WITH TIME, DIRECTION, TEMPERATURE, WEATHER, A MAIL INBOX, TEXT MESSAGES, A NEWS SCROLL, AND CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DESTINATION.
JAMES Minimize HUD.
13 PAGE THIRTEEN 13
HE ENTERS THE DATABASE, AS SEEN FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE. THE HUD IS ALL BUT DISAPPEARED EXCEPT FOR THE TIME IN THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER. THERE IS A HOSTESS GREETING HIM. ABOVE HER IS CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION, WHICH READS: HOSTMARION, SEX: F, AGE: UNDEFINED, RELATIONSHIP STATUS: SINGLE. HER DRESS, WHICH NORMALLY WOULD BE A SIMPLE TIGHT BLACK VERA WANG, NOW HAS GOLD ASIAN STYLE SERPENTS, SLOWLY SLITHERING ACROSS HER BODY. SHE IS WEARING A PAIR OF SIMPLE BUT ELEGANT VR GLASSES.
HOSTMARION Right this way Mr. Buchanan. Your party is in the back. Is there anything I can get for you?
JAMES Bourbon, rocks.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.
HOSTMARION Your regular than sir.
JAMES Yes, thank you Marion.
THEY PASS IN FRONT OF THE BAR. EVERYONE IS WEARING VR GLASSES. MANY OF THE PATRONS ARE SMOKING E-CIGARETTES. SAVE FOR A FEW, THEY ALL HAVE PROFILE INFORMATION HOVERING ABOVE THEM. A MAN LEANS IN WHISPERING SOMETHING INTO A WOMANS EAR. HIS INFORMATION READS: MARSHALLUNION, GENDER: M, AGE: 32, RELATIONSHIP STATUS: MARRIED. HER INFORMATION READS: MISSABIGAIL, GENDER: F, AGE: 26, MARITAL STATUS: SINGLE. HIS TIE IS SLOWLY CHANGING COLOR, AND HER DRESS LOOKS TO HAVE SPARKS SHOOTING OFF OF IT. A WOMAN SITS ALONE AT THE END OF THE BAR. HER INFORMATION READS: TYRANNT, GENDER: QUEER, AGE: 35.
HOSTMARION Will you be enjoying our Augmented Entertainment tonight Mr. Buchanan?
JAMES No, I’m just here to say hello to some friends I don’t believe I’ll be staying long.
JAMES APPROACHES THE V.I.P. AREA, WHICH HAS A GROUP OF PEOPLE SITTING IN A SEMI-CIRCLE. BRIAN TAYLOR APPROACHES.
BRIAN PATS JAMES ON THE BACK.
TAYLOR Hey! James, good to see you! I didn’t think you were going to make it!
JAMES I almost didn’t. I don’t usually have fun at these things. Ive been to so many of them.
TAYLOR STANDS IN FRONT OF HIM.
TAYLOR James, we need to unwind after work, you know? The stress of the field.
JAMES It’s just a game.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 12.
TAYLOR James, I assure you, you’re the only one here that thinks it’s just a game.
14 PAGE FOURTEEN 14
JAMES APPROACHES SIRTIS, WHO HAS HER ARM AROUND A WOMAN’S SHOULDER. HE ATTEMPTS TO SHAKE HER HAND.
JAMES That was quite a save you had for me. I didn’t even see him behind me. You’re really why we won that game.
SIRTIS You’re damn right. And if you hadn’t seized up, we’d have been able to score one more point. Every point matters James.
JAMES LOOKS SHOCKED, HIS HAND STILL HOVERING IN THE AIR.
SIRTIS LEANS IN, A GOLD WATCH SLIDING DOWN HER ARM, HAVING BEEN OBSCURED BY HER GRAY BLAZER.
SIRTIS James, I’m just fucking with you. I don’t care about your shit. Unless it interferes.
JAMES STARTS TO WALK AWAY QUICKLY.
JAMES That ungrateful...
JOHNSON APPROACHES HIM FROM BEHIND, GRABBING HIS SHOULDER.
JOHNSON James, wait!
JAMES Did you see that?!
JOHNSON TURNS HIM AROUND.
JAMES Did you see that! In front of everybody!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.
JOHNSON James, calm down. She’s just, she’s just angry that she made the best shot of the game, and everyone’s talking about your thing.
JAMES IT WASN’T A THING! IT WAS EIGHT SECONDS! She knows we still have to play together, right?
JOHNSON Yeah, and she wants to be Captain. And as long you’re here, that’s not gonna happen.
JAMES Well, she can do what everyone else has, and get in line. Or maybe she’ll wash out like all the other prospective Captains.
JAMES AND JOHNSON SIT AT THE BAR.
JOHNSON James, you don’t know what it was like coming up after you. You practically invented the game! Imagine coming up after Babe Ruth!
JAMES I’m pretty sure there were a couple good players after Ruth.
JOHNSON But, James, you played with The Boss! You’ve been here since ground zero, the first Arena.
JAMES Before there was an Arena. We played in an abandoned Warehouse near the Waterfront.
JOHNSON That’s what I’m talking about! None of us come close to mattering except in relation to you. It can be frustrating.
JAMES Well you might not have to wait long...
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.
JOHNSON What?
JAMES Nevermind. Thanks Rian, you’re a good kid, but can I get a little bit of privacy?
15 PAGE FIFTEEN 15
JAMES SITS AT THE BAR NURSING A DRINK. A WOMAN IS SILHOUETTED BEHIND HIM.
REBECCA He’s the best Medic in the game you know.
JAMES He’s just a kid. They all take it so damn seriously.
REBECCA And you don’t?
JAMES It’s just a game. There’s so much else that really matters. It’s not even real. It’s Virtual! It’s not even a real game!
REBECCA Don’t let Rick hear you say that.
JAMES Rick can shove it. It’s just ones and zeros.
JAMES ORDERS ANOTHER DRINK, SHE SITS DEFIANTLY NEXT TO HIM.
REBECCA What the hell is wrong with you? Since when is James Buchanan, the fist Virtual Combat League Megastar, a LUDITE?! Are you having a mid-life crisis?
JAMES When did it stop being fun?
REBECCA Wow, this whole gee shucks thing does not suit you. This isn’t Massachusetts anymore James! We’re
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 15.
REBECCA (cont’d) not in the Warehouse on the waterfront! Rick isn’t just a nerd in his basement, he’s a Billionaire! And VCL is an institution now, whether you like it or not.
REBECCA RUBS HIS BACK.
REBECCA Did you read my piece?
JAMES No.
REBECCA You’re missing out, its fucking genius.
JAMES Is it about me?
REBECCA Good lord! Not everything is about James Buchanan!
HE TURNS HIS HEAD TO LOOK AT HER.
JAMES Because even if it isn’t about me it ends up being about me!
REBECCA Wow, you’re a mean drunk.
JAMES Are we off the record?!
SHE WALKS AWAY.
REBECCA James, were always off the record now. I can’t trust anything that you say.
HE SLAMS HIS DRINK DOWN.
JAMES Hey Mr. can I get another?
16.
16 PAGE SIXTEEN 16
JAMES STUMBLES INTO HIS APARTMENT. THE LIGHTS ARE OFF.
DESPITE THE DARKNESS, IT IS EASY TO SEE THE MODERN ART COVERING THE WALLS, THE CLOTHING AND CLUTTER COVERING THE FLOOR.
JAMES LOOKS OUT INTO THE CITY, THE LIGHTS SILVER AND BLUE.
HE SITS IN A CHAIR FACING THE CITY.
LOOKING AT HIM STRAIGHT ON, HE IS WEARING SOME FANCY HEADPHONES. HE THROWS A COUPLE OF PILLS IN HIS MOUTH.
LOOKING AT HIM STRAIGHT ON, HE CLOSES HIS EYES TIGHTLY.
BLACK PANEL
A CLOSE UP OF HIS WIDE OPEN EYES.
17 PAGE SEVENTEEN. A FULL PAGE SPREAD. 17
JAMES, NAKED AS SEEN FROM BEHIND, ARMS AND LEGS SPREAD OPEN, IS FLOATING IN AN ORANGE, PURPLE AND RED SWIRLING VOID.
18 PAGE EIGHTEEN 18
JAMES PUTS ON HIS BLUE HELMET AND LOCKS IT IN PLACE.
JAMES, TAYLOR AND JOHNSON STAND READY OUTSIDE OF THE BLUE GATE AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE ARENA.
A DIGITAL COUNTER TICKS DOWN TO ZERO.
A CLOSE UP OF JAMES EYES AND HELMET RIGHT AS THE BUZZER SOUNDS.
BRAAANK!
JAMES BLUE BOOTS HITTING THE FLOOR.
JAMES CROUCHES BEHIND A WALL.
JAMES ROUNDS THE CORNER OF THE WALL WITH HIS WEAPON HELD CLOSELY UP TO HIS FACE.
HE ROUNDS A CORNER, AND SEES A RED ACCENT IN HIS PERIPHERAL VISION.
JAMES QUICKLY TURNS TO HIS LEFT AND A BLUE BLAST EMITS FROM HIS WEAPON. THE ARMOR OF THE RED TROOPER STANDING IN FRONT OF HIM GOES DARK.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 17.
JAMES I see ya there Navarro.
NAVARRO Damn! James headshot me!
19 PAGE NINETEEN 19
SUDDENLY THE ENTIRE ARENA STARTS TO MORPH INTO A LUSH JUNGLE.
JAMES We’re going into the Amazon, regroup Red Team. Meet at Bravo.
JAMES PUSHES A BUTTON ON HIS LEFT FOREARM, WHICH BRINGS UP A MAP OF THE ARENA. HE MARKS A POINT NEAR THE RIGHT CENTRAL TOWER AND PUTS A MARKER THAT READS "BRAVO". SCATTERED AROUND THE MAP ARE VARIOUS ICONS THAT READ RED 1, RED 2, RED 3, RED 4, RED 5, RED 6. RED 5 IS GREYED OUT.
JAMES Damn, Moore, you’re already down?!
TAYLOR APPROACHES JAMES POSITION FROM THE LEFT. THEY START TO ADVANCE THROUGH THE CORRIDORS, TAKING TURNS CLEARING HALLWAYS.
TAYLOR Careful with Sirtis. I hear she’s gunning for you. She already took out Moore.
JAMES She’ll try. Where’s Johnson?
JOHNSON APPEARS FROM THE RIGHT.
JOHNSON Here Captain.
JAMES AND TAYLOR ARE CROUCHED AT THE OPENING OF A LARGE OPEN AREA. IN THE CENTER OF THE AREA IS A SMALL ENCLOSED SPACE WITH A BRIGHT WHITE BEAM EXTENDING THROUGH TO THE CEILING.
TAYLOR Captain, Bailey I believe is in the northeast spire.
JAMES Okay. Taylor you cover the west entrance, Johnson put up your shield and cover the east. If
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 18.
JAMES (cont’d) Bailey pops up his stupid head I’ll take care of him. On my mark. 3, 2, 1, Mark!
20 PAGE TWENTY 20
FROM A LOW ANGLE WE SEE THEM RUN IN FORMATION AS A BRIGHT BLUE SPHERE POPS UP AROUND THEM. SUDDENLY BRIGHT RED BOLTS FROM THE NORTH ENTRANCE AND THE NORTHWEST SPIRE SPLASH AGAINST THE SPHERE.
TAYLOR Incoming ’nade!
A HUGE RED FLASH BRINGS DOWN THE BLUE SHIELD, JUST AS THEY ARE UNDER THE COVER OF THE CENTER ENCLOSURE.
JAMES SIDLES UP TO A CONSOLE WITH A BIG RED TIMER ON THE FRONT. HE PUSHES A BUTTON AND INPUTS A CODE INTO THE KEYPAD NEXT TO IT.
HE HOLDS DOWN THE BIG RED BUTTON AS THE TIMER STARTS TO COUNT DOWN FROM 30.
JAMES Counter started!
TAYLOR IS CROUCHED NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE ENCLOSURE PROVIDING COVERING FIRE.
TAYLOR I’ve got three reds on the other side of the wall!
SUDDENLY TAYLOR IS HIT BY A BRIGHT RED BOLT, WHICH CAUSES HIM TO FALL BACKWARDS, HIS ARMOR STARTING TO POWER DOWN.
TAYLOR I’m hit!
JOHNSON I’m on it.
JOHNSON THROWS UP HIS SHIELD AGAIN, AND PULLS OUT A BLUE MEDIC PISTOL, WHICH HE POINTS AT JOHNSON, EMITTING A A BRIGHT BLUE GLOW. SLOWLY THE PARTS OF TAYLORS ARMOR THAT WERE HIT BEGIN TO REGAIN ITS COLOR.
19.
21 PAGE TWENTY-ONE 21
THE TIMER IS AT FIFTEEN SECONDS.
JAMES BRINGS UP HIS MAP. ALL BUT THREE BLUE IN THE ENCLOSURE ARE POWERED DOWN, SITTING ON THE SIDELINES.
JAMES Well Gentlemen, it’s just us now.
JOHNSON Captain, once the timer’s down, one well placed ’nade and that’s the game. Taylor isn’t allowed to fire for another 45 seconds!
JAMES Taylor, press the button!
TAYLOR Yes sir.
THEY TRADE PLACES, WHILE JAMES STICKS HIS HEAD OUT OF THE ENCLOSURE.
SIRTIS SITS THERE GRINNING, CLEARLY STICKING HER HEAD OUT WITHIN FIRING RANGE.
JAMES It’s Sirtis. She knew we’d hole up in here, while she could pick off the rest of the team one by one.
JAMES TURNS TO THE TWO OTHER PLAYERS.
JAMES Okay Johnson, you need to keep that shield up defensively. Only throw it up the second you see them firing. If they throw a nade, it’ll take it out for too long to recharge again, that means you need to keep him healed up until the last possible second. Once the capture point reverses to us, stay alive as long as you can. I’m going to flank them. If they don’t have anyone left to push the button, that’s the game. Give me some covering fire on the way out. Johnson, you have a ’nade?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 20.
JOHNSON Yes sir.
JAMES Good, throw it on three, and I’ll make my exit.
FROM THE TOP DOWN WE SEE JOHNSON LEAN OUT THE DOORWAY AND THROW THE ’NADE, WHICH EXPLODES AGAINST THEIR RED SHIELD. JAMES ESCAPES QUICKLY FROM THE NORTH.
22 PAGE TWENTY-TWO 22
DISTRACTED BY THE SKIRMISH TO THE SOUTH, THE SNIPER IN THE NORTHEAST TOWER POPS HIS HEAD UP, WHICH JAMES SHOOTS DEAD CENTER.
JAMES MAKES IT AROUND A CORNER, SPRINTING FULL SPEED DOWN THE ARCED CORRIDOR.
A RED TROOPER POPS OUT FROM BEHIND A CORNER, WHICH JAMES DISPATCHES WITHOUT EFFORT.
STILL RUNNING FULL SPEED, HE TURNS HIS HEAD BARELY NOTICING A RED STREAK TO HIS LEFT.
HE DIVES INTO THE GROUND, ROLLING TO HIS RIGHT, NARROWLY AVOIDING A RED BLAST.
ANOTHER RED TROOPER IS RIGHT BEHIND HIM, WITH ONE SWIFT MOVEMENT HE REMOVES HIS PISTOL AND PUTS THREE INTO THEIR HEAD.
ECHEVARRIA Dammit James! With that monkey shit!
HE FLIPS HIMSELF UP.
23 PAGE TWENTY-THREE 23
HE PULLS OUT A ’NADE, AND HAS HIS SIDEARM STILL IN HAND.
HE CHECKS HIS MAP, WHICH SHOWS THAT HE IS THE ONLY ACTIVE BLUE PLAYER.
HE CHUCKS THE ’NADE AROUND A CORNER.
SIRTIS JUMPS FROM OUT BEHIND THE WALL.
HE PUTS HIS PISTOL TO HER HELMET AND THERE IS A BRIGHT BLUE FLASH!
SHE LIES THERE, PANTING. HE GRABS HER BY THE ARMOR.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 21.
JAMES Don’t ever disrespect me in public again, or I will embarrass you in front of the league every single day. I will not play with someone who is not on my team. As far as I’m concerned if you’re only playing for yourself, you aren’t on our team. Have some self respect. Do you have anything to say?
SIRTIS Nice speech. I saw you rehearsing it in your head all day.
HE DROPS HER.
JAMES I will wipe the floor with your ass every single game, because I am a team player. Just you wait till I’m gone, and see how your career falls apart right before your eyes.
24 PAGE TWENTY-FOUR 24
HE WALKS AWAY, FURIOUS.
HE STARTS TO STUMBLE.
HE FALLS TO THE GROUND.
WE SEE OUT OF HIS EYES, WHICH SHOWS A GLITCHED OUT, SCRAMBLED VIEW OF HIS HANDS AND KNEES.
BLACK PANEL.
ALANA RUSHES TO HIS SIDE.
ALANA James? Are you okay? James?
JAMES STANDS UP SLOWLY. HIS HAND ON HIS HEAD.
JAMES Yeah, I was just a little bit dizzy for a second there.
ALANA Dizzy? Okay, to the team doctor.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 22.
JAMES I do NOT need to see a doctor.
ALANA You know the rules.
JAMES Goddammit!
SIRTIS SITS ON THE SIDELINES, GRINNING.
25 PAGE TWENTY-FIVE 25
THE WHOLE ARENA, SEEN FROM THE TOP DOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME.
26 PAGE TWENTY-SIX 26
IT IS DARK. A MAN SITS AT A COMPUTER IN A GIANT STUDY. A GIANT CHAIR OBSCURING HIM, THE LIGHT FROM THE COMPUTER FILLING THE ROOM.
A CLOSE UP OF HIS FACE, HIS HAND HOLDING UP HIS HEAD IN A PENSIVE STARE.
HE STARES AT A GIANT HOVERING COMPUTER INTERFACE. ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN IS A VIDEO, SEEING THROUGH JAMES EYES.