#K2804 - "World Killer" - First Draft 9/9/97                                                              

ACT FOUR

FADE IN

EXT. THE BOSS'S FORTRESS - DAY

A closer shot of the matte painting seen in Act Three.

EXT. THE BOSS'S FORTRESS - POWER STATION

Roberto eases Quinn, Rembrandt, Maggie and Quinn 2 past big generators.

ROBERTO
Static from the feeder lines made the security cams all hinky...

They enter through a doorway.

INT. BOSS'S FORTRESS - FEEDER CABLE TUNNEL - DAY

Quinn (the Device in a backpack), Rembrandt, Maggie (with rifle), Roberto and Quinn 2 hurry along the tunnel.

ROBERTO
After awhile, they just stopped bothering..

He leads them along the low tunnel. The tunnel has several hard turns in it, so they can't see far ahead or behind.

ON MAGGIE AND QUINN 2

Maggie's alert, senses sharp. Quinn 2 looks at her admiringly. Quinn is out of earshot.

QUINN 2
Look at you, woman warrior.. You really get off on this.

MAGGIE
No .. my dad did.. but I got past all that.

Quinn 2's stung, it hits home.

FAVORING ROBERTO

ROBERTO
Man, this was one cherry job. Toe the line, live like Elvis.. women,
cars -- and the health plan!

REMBRANDT
So what got you canned?

ROBERTO
They wanted me to fry this guy, you know, wire up the urinal
so when he took a whiz -- zap! But I couldn't. I mean, him and
me'd been in Boy Scouts...

Suddenly, a VOICE BOOMS OUT of nowhere:

ELDON (O.S)
Let's just pretend I've fired off a volley to get your attention...

Maggie swings her gun around, looking for the source.

WIDE

Cops with AK-47s appear in the junctures ahead and behind them. They're surrounded. Their commanding officer ELDON (40s, Black, a regular guy) appears, holding a pistol.

ELDON
Now, I don't want to do that 'cause it's a mess patching
equipment prying out slugs. So drop your weapons, okay?

They really have no choice, they do it. Eldon walks up, genuinely sorry to see Roberto, knowing what he'll have to do.

ELDON
Didn't think I'd be seeing you again, Roberto.

ROBERTO
Hey Eldon, we always treated each other square. How 'bout you let
us go...

ELDON
If it was just me, I might... (off other cops) But these guys just
can't keep a secret.

INT. BOSS'S FORTRESS - THRONE ROOM - DAY - ON A HUMIDOR

as a BEEFY MAN'S HAND bedecked with ring pulls out a cigar, cuts it and lights it.

THE BOSS (O.S)
Cubans... hard to come by nowadays.. twenty-five hundred dollars
apiece. But oh so pleasurable...

WIDEN as he turns to face his prisoners. The magnificent room is a REDRESS OF THE LAST CHANCE BAR, barbarian-modern opulence, treasures strewn about with savage abandon.

Rembrandt, Quinn, Maggie, Quinn 2 and Roberto stand in a line, under guard. THE BOSS (40s) strides toward them in an audacious, commanding outfit.

THE BOSS
These were a gift, brought by a petitioner.. Now what have you
brought me? (off Rembrandt) Spiritual comfort? (off Quinn, Maggie
and Quinn 2) The optimism of youth...?

Our guys maintain their silence. The Boss reaches Roberto, who's sweating. The Boss's tone is offhand, casual.

THE BOSS
They don't know me... but you do. (off Roberto's eye patch) Last time,
you had a spare... No such luxury now. So is there something you'd like
to tell me, Roberto?

Roberto swallows hard, terrified.

INT. BOSS'S STOREROOM - DAY

Piled with exquisite antique booty. Quinn, Quinn 2, Maggie and Rembrandt sit on various statues and other treasures. An armed cop stands guard at the mouth of the alcove.

REMBRANDT
Well, at least it isn't another cell...

MAGGIE
Wonder what Roberto's telling him?

QUINN
Singing our praises, no doubt...

QUINN 2
Listen, I've got a plan. We lay it all out for the Boss, offer our services.

REMBRANDT
Services? Like what?

QUINN 2
Designing body armor, weapons, that kind of thing... in exchange
for giving us what we need.

MAGGIE
Like our lives?

QUINN 2
And research facilities...

REMBRANDT
So maybe this guy gets to be the Boss of sliding...

QUINN 2
Not if we play it smart.

MAGGIE
You want to work for this sociopath, give him more power..?

Maggie's just getting started, but Quinn cuts her off, addresses Quinn 2.

QUINN
I owe you an apology...

Quinn 2's thrown, it's not what he was expecting.

QUINN
The Sister was right -- a mirror on our strengths and flaws... When I saw all
your trophies and awards, there was a moment -- I envied you...(beat)
We both act like it's about what we do, not what we are.. being smarter
than anyone...

He turns to Rembrandt.

QUINN
Remmy -- what's important?

Rembrandt gives a gentle smile, puts an arm around Quinn's shoulder. Quinn looks back at Quinn 2.

QUINN
I'm sorry I haven't gotten through to you...

Eldon appears.

QUINN
(sotto, to Quinn2) But if you say a word, I'll still break your neck.

ELDON
Your presence is requested ...

They head off.

ON THE BOSS

Sprawled on his raised throne Barcalounger, one leg over the arm rest. Several steps lead up to it. Roberto stands nearby, sweating.

Quinn, Maggie, Quinn 2 and Remmy are shoved into the room by cops. Eldon carries the backpack holding the Device.

THE BOSS
You know, I really love this job. You ask for things and you get them.
(to Eldon) Come.

Eldon draws up to him with the knapsack, removes the Sliding Device and sets it before him.

THE BOSS
Roberto and I have been having the most stimulating chat... Hard to
believe, it's quite a fish story, that you caused all of this... Still, if it's
true, I owe you a debt of thanks. You see, my life never quite met
my expectations.

MAGGIE
What'd you do? Walk behind parades with a shovel?

THE BOSS
Close. I wrote greeting cards...

REMBRANDT
Listen, just let us plug it in, throw the switch. The world will be a
much better place.

ALL INCLUSIVE

THE BOSS
Looks pretty good from where I'm sitting.

MAGGIE
(to Rembrandt) Give it a rest... Man's got a heart of solid meat.

THE BOSS
Not bad, I'll use that. Eldon ...

With his boot, he nudges the Sliding Device. It rolls down the steps, HITTING the floor with a sickening CRUNCH.

THE BOSS
Read it its rights.

Eldon walks down toward the Device, drawing his pistol.

QUINN
Eldon, wait!

Quinn pulls away from his guards, strides toward Eldon. Maggie's a few feet behind.

THE BOSS
You got a vote here? You don't got a vote.

QUINN
The way I see it, there are two kinds of cops, the cowboy jerks --

MAGGIE
(sotto to Quinn) Are you trying to get on his good side?

QUINN
-- and the regular guys, who want to make things better, who don't
always like what they're told to do!

The Boss sees that Eldon's listening, doesn't like it.

THE BOSS
Eldon...

Quinn moves in closer, speaks more urgently.

QUINN
That can take the world back to way it was, or at least closer.
You blow it to pieces and it stays hell here forever.

ELDON
You know, I'd really like to help you ... (looks nervously toward
Roberto's eye patch) But I'm no hero ....

THE BOSS
Wait.

All eyes turn to the Boss, who looks at Quinn.

THE BOSS
Your moving speech has changed my mind.. (to Eldon)
Read him his rights first.

ON QUINN 2

Aghast.

FAVORING QUINN AND ELDON

Eldon's shocked -- he really doesn't like it -- but he wheels on Quinn with the gun. Just as he's about to pull the trigger, Quinn 2 dives in between him and Quinn.

QUINN 2
No!

BANG! Quinn 2 takes the bullet, in the shoulder. With a CRY, he crumples.

Quinn kicks Eldon, who falls, dropping the gun. Maggie grabs it up, FIRES OFF A VOLLEY. The other guards and the Boss dive for the cover.

Quinn grabs the Device and Quinn 2 hurries toward the exit. Maggie's keeping the guards pinned, FIRING as she too retreats toward the door.

Roberto is huddled behind a potted palm. Rembrandt rushes up and grabs him by the collar.

REMBRANDT
You're still on our time.

He hustles him out with the others.

ON QUINN, MAGGIE, REMBRANDT, QUINN 2 AND ROBERTO

As they head out the door.

EXT. BOSS'S FORTRESS -- POWER STATION - DAY

Quinn, Roberto, Maggie, Rembrandt and Quinn 2 rush toward the power station. Rembrandt helps support Quinn 2 as he runs/stumbles, grimacing in pain.

QUINN 2
(to Quinn) Damn... See what happens when you get through to me?

They reach the power station door, dart inside.

INT. POWER STATION - CONTINUOUS

A ROW OF BIG GENERATORS, catwalks overhead. Maggie locks the door.

Quinn hurries with Roberto toward a bank of high-voltage breakers with big knife-switches, removing the Sliding Device and various tools from his backpack.

QUINN
Talk me through it.

Outside, the SOUND of guards coming on the run. Roberto's distracted, fearful.

QUINN
Now..

ROBERTO
Grab that cable, hook the bare wire end to your terminals...

Quinn grabs a pair of heavy-duty cables from the wall, runs them to terminals on the Device.

ON THE DOOR

O.S. bullets strike the metal door. Maggie and Rembrandt fall back.

ON QUINN 2

slumped against a wall. Maggie appears with a rag. She presses the cloth to his wound, puts his hand over it.

MAGGIE
Keep pressure on it.

She starts to move off to help Quinn, but Quinn 2 holds onto her hand, catches her eye. She smiles, reassuring. He lets her hand go.

EXT. POWER STATION

Eldon looks on, flanked by the Boss.

THE BOSS
Can't you kill the power!?

ELDON
Not on this side...

THE BOSS
Oh, you're a beauty queen, you are, a real champion!

The cops shoot off the lock, surge in.

INT. POWER STATION

As the cops and the Boss rush in.

THE BOSS
Shoot!  Shoot!

The cops FIRE wildly. Bullets RICOCHET off the electrical equipment, THROWING OFF SPARKS.

Maggie returns fire, but it's a losing battle. The cops are surrounding them. She FIRES off a burst, which pushes them back. But then her gun's out of ammo.

MAGGIE
I'm out!

REMBRANDT
(to Quinn) You got something to do, I'd do it now!

The cable's hooked up to the Device. Quinn's using an Allen wrench to hook the lugs on the other end of the cable to the bus bar on the high-voltage breaker. Roberto stands primed at the big knife-switch. The connection's tight -- Quinn SHOUTS to him:

QUINN
Hit it!

But the bullets are hitting too close to the switch, Roberto cowers back, afraid. Seeing this, Rembrandt dives in, throws the switch.  There's a LOUD HUM, the lights dim. Quinn dives for the Device, punches in numbers.

QUINN
Initiating sequence...

Quinn punches the final button on the Device ... and the SLIDEWAVE ISSUES FORTH, SURGING OUT, enveloping all in the room in its SWIRLING, BLINDING LIGHT.

EXT. BOSS'S FORTRESS - DAY

The SLIDEWAVE SURGES OUT, RUSHES TOWARD US, enveloping all.

EXT. THE EARTH FROM SPACE

The SLIDEWAVE surges from San Francisco, covers the globe.

EXT. STREET - DAY - ON QUINN, REMMY, MAGGIE AND QUINN 2

in the middle of the street. This is Quinn 2's world, so there are dust-covered cars, other signs of derelict (until now) world.

REMBRANDT
Yeah! Now that's a ride worth the ticket!

Quinn walks up to several cops, who stand disoriented.

QUINN
Take a rest, boys. You're home...

THE BOSS

stands some distance off, his face a mask of fury and defeat. Rembrandt comes up behind him, taps him on the shoulder.

REMBRANDT
Hey, Boss ...

The Boss turns -- and Rembrandt decks him.

REMBRANDT
I cared enough to send the very best ...

MAGGIE

eases Quinn 2 to the sidewalk, checks the would. He hisses in pain.

MAGGIE
Easy .. you'll be okay ..

QUINN 2
Speak for yourself... I'm not used to taking a bullet. (softer, a laugh)
But I guess it woke me up...

She smiles at that, he smiles back. But his smile fades as he looks about at the ragged people on the street, wandering as if waking from a dream. Maggie touches his shoulder.

MAGGIE
Hey ... We got them back.

He nods, eyes still on them, melancholy.

QUINN 2
But to what... ?

DISSOLVE TO         

EXT. QUINN'S FAMILY HOME - DAY

We're outside the front door, where a crowd of ragged people stand in line, awaiting assistance. Sister Celine 2, holding a clipboard, interviews one, taking particulars.

SISTER CELINE 2
We'll be getting you blankets and food shortly ..

She moves on to the next. Quinn 2 appears in f.g. with Maggie. He's also got a clipboard, surveys the crowd.

QUINN 2
So I'll try to Mother Teresa route. May be a bad fit... (looks at Maggie, softer)
But what the hell...

She nods. Quinn and Remmy come up. Quinn holds a jerry-rigged version of his timer.

QUINN
Almost time. (to Quinn 2) With the circuitry I've integrated from your
specs, we should be able to slide to the coordinates of my brother's
world (off timer) If it doesn't burn out first.

QUINN 2
Adopted, a brother ... Different worlds, different lives...

MAGGIE
Infinite possibility...

Quinn 2 looks out at the throng doubtfully.

QUINN 2
For them?

REMBRANDT
They got room to breathe now, thanks to you, buddy.

QUINN 2
All they'll remember is I sent them there in the first place.

QUINN
You could come with us.. start fresh...

Quinn 2's surprised at the offer -- and grateful. He smiles, but then looks off at the crowd.

QUINN 2
No. Thanks... I've got work to do.

QUINN
Okay, then.

He shakes Quinn 2's hand, as does Remmy. Maggie's standing still, considering Quinn 2. Quinn and Remmy head off.

QUINN 2
You could stay, you know. I'd rent you a room.

MAGGIE
Thanks, but ..

QUINN 2
No.

She nods, then looks off toward Quinn wistfully.

QUINN 2
He's a good guy ...

MAGGIE
Yeah ...

She regards Quinn 2, kisses him on the cheek then turns and hurries after Quinn and Rembrandt. Quinn 2 watches her go.

ON QUINN AND REMBRANDT

as Maggie joins them, walking off. Quinn looks at the timer.

REMBRANDT
Next stop, family reunion...

QUINN
Or God knows what ...

MAGGIE
My father once said, 'You're the captain of your ship... but not
of the sea.'

QUINN
What's that mean?

MAGGIE
That we accept what the world hands us ... and ourselves.

He hold her gaze, nods. He keys the timer.

ON THE VORTEX

Our heroes jump through into the unknown, as we ...

FADE OUT                       

THE END