#K2815 - "Slidecage" - 1st Yellow Revs. 11/24/97                                                              1.

ACT THREE

FADE IN

34  OMITTED

35  INT. LABYRINTH - CORRIDOR - NIGHT -

A hatch in the wall opens and Quinn and Colin slide out, COUGHING, accompanied by
FUMES. Quinn seals the hatch behind them. Both continue to HACK, gasping for breath.

As they start to recover, Colin turns to Quinn.

COLIN
I feel as if I've just been through the longest car exhaust in the world.

They break down laughing, slap each other on the back, glad to be alive. Then they catch their
breath, laughter dying. Quinn looks down the hall, all seriousness.

QUINN
Now to find Rembrandt...

36
THRU  OMITTED
38

38A  INT. KROMAGG LAIR - NIGHT

We're in the middle of an intense, deep scan of Rembrandt by Kolitar, Rembrandt in a trance,
back in the moment of being tortured in the prison camp. Two guards stand by.

Rembrandt
Kromaggs... get away from me. It hurts...

KOLITAR
(realizes) You're not speaking of us. They did something to you in the camps,
implanted something in your mind. (sees it, surprised) You're to kill someone..
Who? Why?

Remmy goes unconscious. Kolitar gives a cry of frustration.

KOLITAR
(to guards) Twenty minutes, then wake him and we start again.

He strides off.

KOLITAR
I will have this!

38B  ON KALDEEN

In the distance, crouched, watching Rembrandt with sympathy and concern.

39  INT. CONDUIT CENTRAL - NIGHT

Maggie's standing, watching the varioius monitors as they switch from scene to scene. Thomas
watches her from several feet back, uncomfortable, wanting to distract her.

THOMAS
You know, you're gonna get eye strain that way.

She keeps watching. He holds up a homemade checkerboard with bolts and washers for checkers.

THOMAS
Look here, made it myself. (an invitation) I'm a positive fiend at checkers.

No response. He digs down into a pile of clothes, comes up with a tattered paperback of CLAN
OF THE CAVE BEAR.

THOMAS
How about a good book? 'Clan of the Cave Bear.' Had it in my back pocket when
I arrived. Or I could recite it for you.

Maggie keeps watching the screens. An image of Quinn and Colin appears on one of the monitors.

MAGGIE
There. There they are. (turns to Thomas) Do you recognize it?

Thomas says nothing, eyeing the screen nervously.

MAGGIE
Thomas, do you know where that is?

THOMAS
Well, I -- I, that is --

MAGGIE
Thomas --

THOMAS
It's a corridor, not far from here.

MAGGIE
Show me the way.

She starts off. He hangs back.

THOMAS
That's not such a good idea, really.

She turns back to him.

MAGGIE
What are you talking about?

THOMAS
It would be much better if we just stayed here, safer, trust me.

MAGGIE
Thomas, they're my friends. I've got to go to them.

THOMAS
Really bad things happen out there. You only had a taste. (off the room) This
is a controlled environment. No one knows about it, no one comes here.
We can live out our lives...

Maggie reacts -- live out our lives? She shakes her head, firm.

MAGGIE
No.  No.

He sees she means it. His heart sinks. She speaks gently.

MAGGIE
Thomas, you've been very kind to me, but I have no intention of staying here. I'm
going to my friends, whether you come with me or not. But I'd rather you come.

THOMAS
No, that's out, no no no. I don't talk to people!

A beat, then:

MAGGIE
You talked to me.

THOMAS
You were different.

MAGGIE
How?

THOMAS
So many have died here. I couldn't let you be another one.

He sinks down, turns his tormented face up to her.

THOMAS
Want to know why I'm here in the walls? During the war, I was assigned off world, Eighth
Armored Division. It got so bad, I cracked, ran off. When I came back, they were all dead,
all my friends, nothing but blood and meat. I lost it, wandered for months, years. Finally
I wanted to come home, but it was too late. I landed here. It was only right. I should
have been with them.

Maggie comes down to his level, speaking softly. Off the image of Quinn and Colin on the monitor:

MAGGIE
Thomas, you couldn't save your friends... but maybe you can save mine.

He looks at her and a change comes over him.

40  OMITTED

40A  INT. ARRIVAL AREA - NIGHT

Quinn and Colin move toward the closed door that the Kromaggs passed through with the
unconscious Remmy. Quinn carries a long piece of metal.

QUINN
The Kromaggs took Remmy through there.

He angles the piece of metal into the corner of the door to use it as a lever to force the door open.
He puts his shoulder to it, then pauses, thoughtful.

QUINN
You know, it's funny, I just had the feeling that somehow Maggie's looking down on us.

COLIN
(smiles) At the end of our road, they say we're reunited with --

Suddenly, several PEOPLE appear in the corridor behind them, running toward them.

PEOPLE
(AD-LIB. "There they are! Get them!" etc.)

Quinn and Colin put their shoulders to the door -- no good. They turn and run another way.
But the way is blocked with more HUMANS running toward them. They're trapped.

MAGGIE
In here!

Quinn is thunderstruck to see her.

QUINN
Maggie, Oh, God.

His face fills with joy and relief. She sees this reaction and smiles, moved. A moment between
them. But from behind her, Thomas calls:

THOMAS
Get in. Quickly!

They hurry to climb in, but it's too late. The humans reach them, pull them back out, get all four.

MAGGIE
Thomas, I'm so sorry.

He gives her a small smile.

THOMAS
It's good to be alive before I'm dead again.

She smiles back.

43  FAVORING JANIE

as she bulls through the crowd up to our guys.

JANIE
If you had brought the Kromaggs down on us, I swear I'd have chased you to
hell and gone and killed you all.

Now she sees Maggie and reacts to her still being alive.

MAGGIE
We're not so easy to kill.

They stare daggers at each other.

QUINN
No one's gonna kill anybody.

JANIE
Not up to you.

QUINN
Listen to me. We've got something you need. Don't you wonder how we got out of that room?

She studies him, intrigued.

QUINN
Where's the mechanism that runs the Slidecage?

JANIE
In Kromagg territory.

Quinn nods, heartened.

QUINN
I was hoping you'd say that.

44  INT. KROMAGG LAIR - NIGHT - CLOSE ON REMBRANDT

chained to the wall, holding his head in pain. Kaldeen approaches.

REMBRANDT
Head feels like a butcher's gone to work. Not going to be much left
if he keeps it up...

Kaldeen produces a key, hands it to Rembrandt.

KALDEEN
Here, quickly. While they're not looking.

Rembrandt takes the key, hurriedly unlocks the restraints.

REMBRANDT
Come with me.

KALDEEN
The humans would kill me. Father's said. Go!

REMBRANDT
All right, but there's something I've got to do.

He reaches out and pulls the rags free of Kaldeen's face. Kaldeen's arms fly up to shield his face.

KALDEEN
No.

Rembrandt gently lowers Kaldeen's arms -- revealing the face of a normal human boy. He
hadn't been sure, but he'd suspected it.

REMBRANDT
Oh, my lord.

KALDEEN
I told you I was hideous.

REMBRANDT
You're not hideous, you're beautiful. You're human. Understand? Human.

Kaldeen's stunned. He doesn't know how to react.

Suddenly, they're interrupted by the SOUND of KROMAGGS COMING ON THE RUN.
Rembrandt grabs hold of Kaldeen's arm, start off with him.

REMBRANDT
C'mon. (off Kaldeen's hesitation) Trust me.

Kaldeen looks into Rembrandt's eyes and nods. They take off for the door.

Kolitar appears on the other side of the room with several of his men, hurrying.

KOLITAR
Kaldeen, no! (to his men) Stop them!

The Kromaggs take off after them. A Kromagg makes a flying tackle, knocking Kaldeen over
and taking Rembrandt down. The Kromagg starts to beat Rembrandt.

45  OMITTED

46  KALDEEN

gapes at this. Then he does an extraordinary thing: his head goes down and his eyes roll up,
showing white as he concentrates.

47  ON PIECE OF DISCARDED MACHINERY

lying on the ground. It moves, then takes off through the air.

48  FAVORING REMBRANDT AND KROMAGG

The machinery STRIKES the Kromagg, knocking him down and out. Rembrandt's amazed,
having seen it fly through the air on its own (Note: None of the other Kromaggs have seen this).

KALDEEN
Run!

Just then, a SECOND KROMAGG rushes up. Kaldeen grabs him, tries to stop him. The
Kromagg starts beating Kaldeen. Seeing this, Rembrandt turns and dives at the Kromagg. By
then, other Kromaggs appear, leap on Rembrandt and subdue him, hold him tight.

They're shoved roughly against a wall. Rembrandt whispers to Kaldeen as Kolitar strides
toward them, out of earshot.

REMBRANDT
You moved that with your mind.

KALDEEN
It happens when I'm scared. They don't know.

Kolitar comes up to them, glaring. Rembrandt clams up.

KOLITAR
Kaldeen. Cover yourself.

Kaldeen looks to Rembrandt, hesitating.

KOLITAR
Cover yourself!

Rembrandt nods. Kaldeen hides his face once more.

KOLITAR
I will think how to deal with you. (to Kromagg) Take him to his room.

The Kromagg escorts Kaldeen off. Guards stand a few feet behind Kolitar as he faces Rembrandt.

REMBRANDT
My God, how could you do it? He's a human being!

Kolitar says nothing.

REMBRANDT
You got him in some kind of raid, didn't you?

Slowly, Kolitar nods, in the memory.

KOLITAR
My own son was killed and there was no hope of having another. Something
about this place prevents it. So I took this one. Everyone is a bit mad here. Some
more than a bit. At first, he was a pet. But he was bright and this place is so tedious.
Then I saw he could be of use. Those hydroponics, he designed them. And the
filters to keep the air breathable.

REMBRANDT
And no one ever told him he was human?

KOLITAR
They were forbidden. (moves in closer) Enough of this. I will have your
secret now, and then you will die.

He grabs hold of Rembrandt's head ferociously, begins scanning him. Rembrandt is transfixed.

KOLITAR
Who are you to kill? Who did they order you to kill?

Rembrandt's resisting. Kolitar bears down.

KOLITAR
Tell me!

REMBRANDT
(in a trance) Qui -- Quinn...

Kolitar is stunned, Rembrandt's expressionless, as we ...

49  OMITTED

                                                                                                   FADE OUT

END OF ACT THREE