LOS ANGELES: THE NEAR FUTURE: DAY 1

EXT. THE CALIFORNIA COAST - DAY

Three miles offshore, a large structure looms, hovering on
the waves, like the Taj Mahal.
Now we move up the coast, then inland from Santa Monica.
Looking North, clouds of smoke rise from raging fires in the
brown, dry hills above Malibu.
ANNOUNCER
(voice over)
Tomorrow you have a chance to vote for
the future. To ensure that our children
have clear water to drink...
Traveling east on Sunset toward Beverly Hills, where the
usually perfect manicured lawns and gardens are brown and
withered.
ANNOUNCER
(CONT'D)
...and that California remains the garden
paradise that has made our state world
famous for its beauty and quality of
life...
Pass a car wash with a large sign in front that reads "CLOSED
DUE TO WATER SHORTAGE." It's hot, hot, hot in Hollywood.
Traffic is bumper to bumper on the 101 into The Valley.
INT. TOBY'S THREE BEDROOM HOUSE, ENCINO - NOON
Inside the classic, California ranch-style house two young
boys, ELLIS, 5 and Billy, 7, wrestle in front of the TV. A
political ad plays for Prop 17, the 'Seawater Referendum.'
ANNOUNCER
(voice over)
Vote yes. On Proposition 17. Water from
our ocean. Take out the salt, and save
our way of life...
CLAIRE INMAN, 30, pretty in a former-cheerleader-had-a-couple
of-kids-bored-to-death-housewife sort of way, pours herself
another gin and tonic and shouts toward the bedroom.
CLAIRE
You haven't been home for dinner in three
weeks.
ELLIS
Are we having pizza with dad?
TOBY INMAN, fading high school football star good looks,
checks himself out in the hallway mirror.
TOBY
 You know I have to get ready for the six
o'clock show...
CLAIRE
I need to talk to you.
Claire opens the sliding glass doors to the back yard, where
the grass is brown and the pool is empty. Toby follows. The
kids keep wrestling, throwing couch cushions at each other.
CLAIRE (CONT'D)
It's 120 in the shade. I've got two
overheated kids who want to see their
father, and I can't even put them in the
pool, 'cause filling it is a felony. And
now I'm eating alone. Again.
BILLY
Mommy, I'm hot! I wanna go swimming.
CLAIRE
You know you can't go swimming. You heard
daddy say on the TV that there's no water
for swimming.
He reaches out to stroke her hair, but she's not into it.
Besides, if he starts to set it will mess his hair...
TOBY
Can we go back inside now?
He goes into the house. The boys run to Toby and hug his
legs. He kisses Claire on the forehead.
TOBY (CONT'D)
I gotta go.
Toby opens the door to his Ford Taurus. It's like an oven
inside. He starts the car and cranks the Air Conditioning as
sweat begins to pour from his brow.
EXT. ENCINO - DAY
Toby cruises the neighborhood, passing parched lawns and dry,
dead gardens. He turns onto the 101 toward Hollywood. Clouds
of smoke billow above the Hollywood sign, brush fires that
are the norm in this era of drought.
INT. HEATHER BLAKE'S APARTMENT - SAME TIME
HEATHER BLAKE, very beautiful, blonde, late 20's, gets
dressed as she watches the News at Noon. She talks on the
phone.
HEATHER
That's very sweet, grandma. I know you
think I'm better than Katie Couric...I'm
okay. My biggest problem is wearing panty
hose in this heat. I love you too...
Heather hangs up the phone. She slides her stocking up her
leg. CARL MENDOZA emerges from the shower wrapped in a towel.
Handsome, about 40, we'll soon learn that Carl is the sports
guy at WLAX-TV, the station where Heather does the weather. A
clandestine office romance. He kisses Heather's neck.
CARL
Grandma's right.
HEATHER
Better than Diane Sawyer, too?
CARL
(teasing)
You just lack self esteem.
EXT. SUNSET BLVD. - 2:00PM
Toby, in his Taurus, Heather in her electric Miata, Carl in
his Porsche--each sealed away from the smoggy, 100-degree
heat. They inch along in stop-and-go traffic, passed Sunset's
array of mini-malls and fast food restaurants.
Almost simultaneously, they pull up side-by-side into their
reserved parking spaces outside KLAX-TV headquarters--five
stories of dirty pink stucco. Welcome to Hollywood.
INT. KLAX-TV - 2:04
Toby, Heather and Carl pass a small booth where GUS, the half
asleep security guard leafs through a comic book.
They greet each other cordially as they enter the station's
reception area. DAWNIE, the receptionist, about 20, in a
very, very short skirt, reserves her sexiest smile for Toby
as she uncrosses and recrosses her legs.
DAWNIE
Afternoon, Toby.
Toby grins.
They enter the hermetically-sealed, air-conditioned newsroom.
Concrete walls. Neon lights. EDITORS busy cutting news
stories. The police scanner squawks. The satellite feed
provides constant images of the world outside.
INT. STATION MANAGER'S OFFICE. - SAME TIME
EDDIE FRANKER, the KLAX station manager, sits in his Spartan
office. A beleaguered looking man in his 60's, Eddie puts
out a cigarette in a half-empty styrofoam cup and searches
for his pack of Winstons under a pile of advertising reports.
Eddie's taking his weekly chewing out from ARLENE BERKOWSKI,
StarNet's V.P. of Operations who's image appears on his
computer screen.
ARLENE
You have the gall to ask StarNet for
 another Satellite truck with these
ratings. Get real, Eddie. Sell some
fucking advertising.
EDDIE
(through clenched teeth)
With all due respect Arlene, if we had
something to put on the air besides
"Gilligan's Island" reruns...
He notices Toby and Heather, who jostle for Eddie's attention
in front of his open office door. He waves them in.
ARLENE
You want more toys for your newsroom?
Give the boys upstairs something to get
excited about... SEX, some scandal. And
I'm not interested in hearing about how
you did it when you worked with
Cronkite...
That was thirty-fucking years ago. Maybe
you want to go back to Toledo and tell
them war stories about the hey-day of
journalism.
Heather can't believe what she's hearing.
EDDIE
Dayton...
ARLENE
What?
EDDIE
Not Toledo, Dayton.
ARLENE
Like I give a flying fuck. Nice talking
to you Eddie.
EDDIE
At least fix the one truck we have.
Arlene is done. Her image disappears and Eddie gives the
finger to the blank screen.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
Nice talking to you too, Arlene.
He puts down the phone and chain smokes another cigarette.
Inhales deeply.
HEATHER
You wanted to see us?
They're all embarrassed by the way Eddie was just treated.
TOBY
Did you like my drought story?
 HEATHER
Your drought story?!
EDDIE
The piece was great.
TOBY
I especially like that part when I put on
the surgical mask.
HEATHER
Your drought story??? It was my idea...
my research.
TOBY
It was great of you to help out, Heather.
HEATHER
Oh, please.
EDDIE
That was Arlene Berkowski at StarNet.
They're thrilled with your work.
They all know Eddie's lying.
HEATHER
Then we'll air my piece on Prop 17?
TOBY
The weathergirl doesn't do news stories!
HEATHER
Meteorologist! And I wrote that goddamn
story! And produced it!
EDDIE
Either way it's not gonna happen. We're
not gonna air political opinions on an
issue that's got nothing to do with the
weather.
HEATHER
You're telling me that building a string
of nuclear-powered desalination plants,
five miles off-shore of a major
earthquake fault, all as a response to
the worst drought in history, has nothing
to do with the weather?
EDDIE
The owners of this station are ardent
supporters of the Seawater Referendum.
They have a fortune of money tied up in
Palm Springs. Golf courses, condos. They
all need lots of water. So, if I let my
staff do a story that might hurt
Proposition 17, they will have my ass.
And yours. That's show biz.
 HEATHER
I thought this was the news.
EDDIE
Well, it used to be.
INT. NEWS SET - 5:00PM
Toby, Heather and Carl sit at the crescent-shaped news desk
in front of a huge cardboard mock-up of downtown LA. That's
the set. Toby checks his copy off an aging teleprompter.
The theme music begins, and the announcers voice introduces
the KLAX-TV Action News Team. In the control room, RYAN, THE
DIRECTOR, sets up Camera One for a wide shot and cues Camera
Two for a close-up on Toby.
TOBY
Good evening. Firefighters continue to
use scarce water to battle brush fires,
while California prepares to vote on a
referendum supporters say could end our
water woes. Good evening. I'm Toby Inman.
Now over pictures of a parched and burning city.
TOBY (CONT'D)
As fires flare from Malibu to the
Hollywood Hills to Calabassas, the LA
city council voted to limit household
water use for the first time in history.
Shots of a woman being arrested for watering her garden.
Another of a man being cited for washing his car.
TOBY (CONT'D)
Water meters will be spot-checked and
fines issued for over-use by city
residents and businesses. The drought
means prohibitions continue on watering
lawns, and filling swimming pools. Car
washes also remain closed. Here now is my
special report...
EXT. OWENS LAKE, CALIFORNIA - DAY
Toby's story plays on the monitor. We see the dry, dusty
bottom of Owens Lake -- what used to be one of California's
largest bodies of water.
TOBY
Owens Lake has been a major source of
water for the city of Los Angeles for
most of the 20th century.
Toby walks into picture.
TOBY (CONT'D)
Formerly home to rare birds and thriving
wildlife, Owens Lake is now a wasteland.
 On windy days this dry bed, once the
state's second largest lake...
Cut in pictures of people wearing masks to protect
themselves.
TOBY (CONT'D)
...blows dangerous particles into the air
that force residents here to don
protective masks and sends children to
the emergency room with asthma...
EXT. STATION - SAME TIME
A VAN pulls up to the security booth at the main entrance. A
YOUNG GUY gets out carrying two large pizza boxes. As Gus,
the security guard buzzes him in, he drops the boxes and
presses a machine gun into the guard's nose.
Now, The van doors swing open. SEVEN MORE ARMED PEOPLE LEAP
OUT... and enter the station.
INT. EDDIE FRANKER'S OFFICE - SAME TIME
Eddie watches Heather's story play on his office TV.
TOBY
The Supreme Court has ruled that Los
Angeles must return water to Owens Lake
that was first taken when John Mulholland
built a 200 mile aqueduct in 1913.
They cut in a clip from the movie "Chinatown."
TOBY (CONT'D)
Water that built the city of L.A....
The intercom buzzes on Eddie's phone.
SECRETARY
Your wife, Eddie.
He picks up the phone.
EDDIE
Hi, Honey...Quitting's going great.
Haven't even thought about a cigarette
all day... Listen, I'm watching the six
o'clock. Talk to you later.
Eddie hangs up and takes a deep drag off his cigarette.
INT. NEWSROOM - 6:20PM
The armed group enters, guns pointed at the security guard's
head. Toby's continues on the newsroom TV.
TOBY
As water becomes more and more scarce and
the price skyrockets, we can no longer
 take it for granted...
KELLY JORDAN, 20's, an exotic beauty (we'll learn she's a mix
of Swedish and Spanish), is one of the leaders. She barks
instructions at the editors, clerical staff, secretaries-
about 30 station employees--who are being quickly rounded up
at gun point.
KELLY
Hands in the air! Anyone tries anything
stupid, we will kill you.
On the monitor, Toby grabs a handful of dust from the dry
lake bottom.
TOBY
Our bodies are more than 70 percent water
-we can't live without it. As this brutal
drought once again reminds us--water,
simple water, is our most precious
resource. Reporting from the dust bowl
that once was Owens Lake... This is Toby
Inman.
He takes the last swig from a canteen. He turns it upside
down to show it's empty... We cut back to Toby on set.
INT. NEWS STUDIO, KLAX TV - 5:07 PM
TOBY
Tomorrow, Californians vote on
Proposition 17, whether to build eight
nuclear-powered desalination plants that
could permanently relieve the drought.
What does California think? Vote now!
Graphics appear on the bottom of the screen. Votes tally
automatically. "For 56%, Against 44%.
TOBY (CONT'D)
Our on-the-spot "Instapoll" shows Prop 17
ahead by 12 points with polls scheduled
to open just 12 hours from now... And now
with the forecast, here's Heather with
the weather...
Heather is mortified.
HEATHER
(through clenched teeth)
Thanks, Toby.
INT. NEWSROOM - SAME TIME
TWO OF THE INTRUDERS carry supplies--AIR MATTRESSES, SOY MILK
AND ENORMOUS BAGS OF GRANOLA... while THREE OTHERS plant what
looks like DYNAMITE in various spots throughout the building.
INT. NEWS SET - 5:20
Oblivious to what's going on in the rest of the building,
Toby continues reading the news...
TOBY
In related news, animals continue to
emerge from the hills in search of food
and water...
We see pictures of a deer drinking from a swimming pool and
rattle snakes on Hollywood Boulevard. It's an invasion.
INT. STATION CAFETERIA - SAME TIME
The station staff, HOSTAGES now, are herded into the
cafeteria at gunpoint. Toby's voice continues on the
cafeteria TV, with a graphic over his shoulder that reads
"WATER WARS."
TOBY
Water is the next international
battleground, as Syrian troops continue
to mass along the Turkish border. Syria
threatens to invade if Turkey goes ahead
with plans to construct a dam along the
Euphrates River, cutting off Syria's main
water supply. Up next, Sports with Carl
Mendoza.
Carl's promo plays Dodgers' highlights, while JEFF, the
producer, speaks on the intercom.
JEFF
Back in two everybody. Toby, your wife's
on the line again.
TOBY
(not thrilled)
OK. Patch her through.
Toby picks up the phone.
TOBY (CONT'D)
Claire... Claire... I can't talk now.
CUT BETWEEN THE NEWSROOM AND INT. TOBY'S HOUSE - SAME TIME
Claire watches the news as the two boys wrestle on the floor.
CLAIRE
Billy! Ellis! Stop it. I'm trying to talk
to your father.
BILLY AND ELLIS
Daddy! I wanna talk to Daddy!
CLAIRE
I'm losing my mind, Toby. California was
supposed to be glamorous. My life is not
glamarous.
She's flipping out.
CLAIRE (cont'd)
I want to go back to Georgia.
TOBY
We've been over this. Give it a chance.
It'll get better. I promise.
As Toby tries to calm Claire, DAWNIE the receptionist powders
Tobie's forehead as she doubles as the make-up artist.
TOBY (CONT'D)
Pour yourself another drink. I'll be home
after the news.
CLAIRE
After you fuck Heather Blake.
Claire is already at the bar.
TOBY
Please! I am not fucking Heather Blake!
Ears perk up on the set.
HEATHER
In your dreams.
TOBY
(whispering now)
I am not fucking Heather Blake.
(not that he wouldn't want to)
Look, you know you're the only girl for
me.
Dawnie smiles... He winks back at her.
CLAIRE
Jesus Christ, Toby.
TOBY
What is it, Claire?
CLAIRE
We're out of gin.
INT. EDDIE'S OFFICE - 5:07PM
As Eddie watches Carl's sports segment, HIS OFFICE DOOR
SWINGS OPEN, VIOLENTLY. Gus, the security guard, staggers in.
Behind him, A MAN pushes a machine-gun into the middle of his
back.
This is HORST KLINGERMAN, good-looking, dressed in a bulky
L.A. Dodgers jacket, jeans, a black turtleneck and, of all
things, Birkenstock sandals. KELLY, the young woman commando
from the newsroom, is right behind.
KELLY
 Hands above your head. Now!!!
Eddie is in shock. It's incongruous that this gorgeous young
woman in a fashionably hip, short skirt, sleeveless blouse,
Indian print vest and combat boots is POINTING AN UZI, JUST
INCHES FROM HIS NOSE.
HORST
Introduce us to Mr. Franker, Kelly.
KELLY
We are the Green Army Commandos. We have
seized control of your station in the
name of the peoples of the Earth.
HORST
Nobody gets hurt as long as you remember
that, and act accordingly.
His otherwise perfect English has the slight hint of a German
accent.
KELLY
Otherwise, we could turn kinda bad.
Two more young guys, also with machine guns, block Eddie's
office door. They are JARO, 20, wearing a "Tupac Rules" t
shirt; and LIONEL, 19, shaved head, covered with tatoos and
piercings.
EDDIE
Can I put my arms down now?
Kelly looks at Horst. He nods yes.
KELLY
Palms on the desk. No sudden moves.
Eddie looks at Gus, the security guy. Gus shrugs.
GUS
I'm sorry Mr. Franker. They said they
were delivering pizza... Look, I hope,
you know, this job means everything...
EDDIE
Later, Gus. If there is a later. Is
anyone hurt?
HORST
No one has been harmed... So far.
KELLY
I told you. We're the good guys.
HORST
We are only resorting to such extreme
measures, because we're out of
alternatives. We are not interested in
unnecessary violence. Our objective is
 simple. To save the planet from the
stupidity of our own species.
EDDIE
Is that all? Why don't you try something
ambitious?
HORST
The tactical goal of our action is well
defined and achievable.
EDDIE
Excuse me?
KELLY
Horst is saying that we're not going to
hold the station longer than it takes to
accomplish a limited objective.
EDDIE
And what might that be?
HORST
To defeat Proposition 17.
KELLY
And you're going to help us.
Eddie reaches to open his desk drawer. All four rifles
release their safeties. He pulls out his pack of Winstons.
EDDIE
I need a cigarette.
INT. NEWS SET - 6:14 PM
Toby stops in the middle of the stock market report.
TOBY
What the fuck!!?
The camera jerks to the right. Kelly Jordan waves her machine
gun, signals Heather to move off the set. Now Kelly sits on
the desk and points her gun a few inches from Toby's head.
She stares at Carl.
KELLY
You too, or I blow his head off!
TOBY
For chrissakes, Carl. Don't do anything
stupid!
INT. TOBY'S HOUSE - SAME TIME
Claire microwaves dinner for the kids. They've stopped rough
housing and stare at the television.
BILLY
Mommy! Come see the TV.
 CLAIRE
Not now. Mommy's making dinner.
The boys watch Carl leap up like he might fight back.
ELLIS
Mommy! The lady wants to shoot daddy.
CLAIRE
Don't be silly, honey.
She moves to where she can see the TV. On screen, Kelly has
her Uzi pointed at Toby's head. Carl is poised to strike.
CLAIRE (CONT'D)
Oh my god! Toby. Oh my god!
INT. NEWS SET - SAME TIME
KELLY
Give me a close up.
She brushes the side of Toby's head with the rifle. The
cameramen are slow to respond.
TOBY
Do it!
The camera moves in on Kelly.
KELLY
We interrupt your regularly scheduled
programming... I've always wanted to say
that.
She looks directly into it the lens and smiles. She's a
natural.
KELLY (CONT'D)
Good evening. I'm Kelly Jordan, Minister
of Information for the Green Army
Commandos. We just need a few seconds for
our technical crew to beam our live
coverage to StarNet's satellite and out
to a national audience...
INT. CONTROL ROOM - SAME TIME
TWO MORE TERRORISTS burst into the control room. WARREN, an
Irish punk-rocker with spiky green hair--and also happens to
be a technical wizard--commandeers the controls and signals
Kelly that he's ready. HELEN, his gorgeous French assistant,
holds the producer and director at gunpoint.
INT. NEWSROOM - SAME TIME
Lionel and Jaro take over the studio cameras.
KELLY
 For those of you who've just tuned in,
KLAX-TV has been liberated--in the name
of the peoples of the earth. We are noble
warriors who wouldn't dream of harming
even the smallest creature in the
biosphere, let alone the highly evolved
mammals inside this building.
Kelly moves to the front of the news desk.
KELLY (CONT'D)
Of course, if any un-democratic assholes
try to shut us down... we will take
appropriate action.
INT. PARKER CENTER, LAPD HEADQUARTERS - SAME TIME
Captain Enrique Calderon of the LAPD Special Hostage Unit
finishing paperwork. His phone rings.
CALDERON
What? I'm getting ready to go home...
Snapping his fingers to get his partner's attention.
CALDERON (CONT'D)
Johnny. Quick. Channel 11.
He turns on the office TV. What they see is shocking. On the
air, Kelly opens her vest and exposes the explosives.
KELLY
This is two kilos of fancy plastique
explosives imported from Slovakia. Enough
to take out this entire building and
everyone in it. We're all wired, plus
there's a ton more stashed throughout the
building. That would make for some
serious fireworks...
INT. EDDIE FRANKER'S OFFICE - 6:22 PM
Sirens howl outside the station. Eddie and Horst look out as
the first police cars arrive. Eddie's computer lights up.
Arlene's image appears.
ARLENE
Jesus, Eddie. What the fuck's going on?
They dragged me away from a perfectly
civilized dinner.
EDDIE
We've got a situation here, Arlene.
The other line rings. Kelly continues on Eddie's office TV.
KELLY
(on the air)
We just want to talk, and to hear what
you have to say. That's democracy. That's
 the American Way. Proposition 17 will be
defeated. KLAX-TV belongs to the people!
EDDIE
Arlene. Hold on.
EXT. PARKER CENTER - SAME TIME
Calderon talks to Eddie on his mobile phone, as he ducks
inside a waiting car and speeds toward the station.
CALDERON
This is Captain Enrique Calderon of the
Los Angeles Police Department Hostage
Negotiation Unit. Can you brief me?
EDDIE
No one's been hurt. The Green Army
Commandos control the building.
Horst disconnects the line.
HORST
We have no interest in talking to the
police.
EDDIE
Don't you think we should at least hear
what they have to say?
HORST
No.
ARLENE
Would someone tell me what the fuck's
going on?
EDDIE
Arlene. You said you wanted a story. I
got you one.
Horst shuts down the computer, and Arlene's image vanishes.
The phone rings again.
CALDERON
Is everyone okay?
EDDIE
So far.
Horst's points his rifle at Gus's head.
EDDIE (cont'd)
I'll have to get back to you.
KELLY'S ON-AIR PERFORMANCE PLAYS IN EDDIE'S OFFICE/WHILE
CLAIRE WATCHES CLUTCHING THE BOYS IN TOBY'S LIVING ROOM .
KELLY
Ozone holes. Melting ice caps. Droughts,
 wildfires. Scientists say a shortage of
fresh water will be the most serious
natural resource problems we face by the
year 2020. We cut down rainforests so we
can eat greaseburgers. People! That's our
oxygen source...
INT. NEWS SET - SAME TIME
Kelly continues live...
KELLY
What do you do? Smear yourself with
sunscreen? Send a check to Greenpeace?
Maybe you use some scratchy re-cycled
toilet paper and tell yourself you're a
hero. Most of us just pop open a six
pack, boob out and forget.
EXT. STATION PARKING LOT - SAME TIME
The police begin to cordon off the area.
INT. EDDIE'S OFFICE - 6:34 PM
Eddie and Horst peer out the office window... and see more of
the LAPD arsenal arrive--squad cars, a SWAT Team and two
military vehicles... Eddie's three lines ring simultaneously.
He picks up.
EDDIE
Arlene, can you hold on?... I'll try not
to be long. Jesus Christ.
He tries the next one.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
Hi honey. No, no. Calm down. I'm fine...
(to Horst)
My wife.
HORST
Hang up. No families.
EDDIE
I have to go... I love you too. Don't
worry... No, I'm not smoking.
He hangs up. Tries line three.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
It's Calderon.
HORST
Talking to the cops isn't part of the
plan.
EDDIE
Neither is having them storm the station
before we get back from commerical.
 HORST
All right. Franker, you chat with him.
EXT. STATION - SAME TIME
Calderon talks on his cell phone from the speeding squad car.
CALDERON
May I speak with their spokesperson?
Inside the office, Horst shakes his head no.
EDDIE
I'm afraid not.
CALDERON
Can they hear me?
Horst nods yes.
EDDIE
Yes, they can.
CALDERON
I would like them to know that I am in
sympathy with their basic ecological
position. Though neither I nor the
department endorse the methods employed.
I would like to point out that their
point has been made, and no one has been
hurt, so from a humanitarian and public
relations point of view the logical best
course would be to release the hostages
and surrender.
EDDIE
I could not agree with you more, Captain.
Eddie looks at Horst who is unmoved.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
But that's not gonna happen.
CALDERON
That probability was anticipated.
EDDIE
Can you promise that no attempt to take
the building will be made as long as no
hostages are harmed?
CALDERON
I'm afraid such assurances are contrary
to department policy.
Horst picks up the headset.
HORST
We are in control here! If you interfere
 in anyway with our transmission we will
destroy this building and everyone in it.
At the first move to take this building,
we blow it to pieces. That's our policy.
Horst sounds like he's raving, but his expression stays calm.
He disconnects the call. Then he takes off his Dodgers
jacket. He's wired up and down with explosives.
EDDIE
You can't talk to the LAPD like that.
Horst whips around and rests his Uzi on Eddie's Adam's apple.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
Look.... I'm with you.
HORST
(skeptical)
You are.
EDDIE
I'm a newsman. This is a big story. KLAX
is my goddamn station. Why would I want
these bastards shutting us down?
Eddie gingerly removes the rifle from his throat and lights
another cigarette.
INT. NEWS SET - SAME TIME
Kelly makes like she's flipping a remote control.
KELLY
Sooner or later we're not gonna be able
to change the channel. We'll have killed
this planet deader than the dark side of
the moon.
She slows down and takes a moment. Makes love to the camera.
KELLY (CONT'D)
The Green Army Commandos are here to
lead, to start a Green Crusade. We have
to act to save the planet. Starting with
the defeat of the Seawater Referendum.
And we are going to provide the
inspiration for that action, right here
on the air. Live. Tonight at 11.
There's a moment of silence.
TOBY
What are we supposed to do now?
KELLY
That's it...
Toby realizes he's on the air in a strange two-shot with
Kelly and her uzzi. He recovers his professional demeanor,
and his survival instinct.
TOBY
Eco-terrorists seize KLAX and hold us
hostage! We'll be right back.
The camera sits on Toby and Kelly for a few more seconds of
awkward silence. Finally, the KLAX logo and theme music play.
WARREN
(in his Irish brogue)
Commercial... and we're out...Holy shit!
That was fookin' brilliant!
INT. NEWSROOM - SAME TIME
HELEN, the sexy and tough woman terrorist from France, leads
Toby, Heather and Carl back into the newsroom.
While WARREN, the terrorist engineering wizard, checks
equipment and satellite coordinates.
INT. EDDIE'S OFFICE - 7:02 PM
Kelly enters. Pumped up from her television debut.
KELLY
Wow. That felt incredible. How was I?
HORST
Fine. Now let's keep our heads, Kelly. We
have work to do.
She seems disappointed he's not excited by her performance.
EDDIE
(remembering)
Shit. I forgot Arlene.
Eddie punches her line on the phone.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
Sorry, Arlene.
ARLENE
Sorry? That was great stuff.
EDDIE
You mean you liked it?
ARLENE
Not being left on hold for a fucking
hour. But the show. Yea. Brilliant.
Officially... we are not overjoyed at the
situation. I'm sure it's no secret that
StarNet's chairman, Robby Hildebrandt has
a serious financial interest in the
passage of the Seawater Referendum. So he
is not pleased that his own TV station is
being used against it by these raving
 green assholes.
Horst raises his machine gun and points it at the phone like
he's going to shoot it.
EDDIE
Yo, Arlene. The people you just called
'raving green assholes' are listening to
every word you say.
ARLENE
Hey, I'm just quoting. Nothing personal.
Unofficially, it was amazing! Can you
tell me what they're planning for eleven.
We've got four hours to promote it.
KELLY
Arlene, you won't be disappointed...
ARLENE
Is that Kelly? Hey, I gotta thank you for
that little break to downlink to the
affiliates. We at StarNet appreciate that
kind of professional courtesy.
HORST
We're happy to hear that, Arlene. So now
you can reciprocate.
ARLENE
And who is this?
HORST
Horst Klingerman, chairperson of the
Green Army Commandos. You're going to use
your satellite to distribute our eleven
o'clock broadcast to the networks, CNN,
Fox, MSNBC...
ARLENE
Use our own satellite to downlink our
exclusive to the competition. Are you out
of your fucking mind?
Eddie turns green. Horst looks pissed off.
HORST
You have the technical capacity.
ARLENE
I have the technical capacity to fry my
brains in a microwave oven. Doesn't mean
I'm gonna do it. This is a joke, right?
KELLY
(to Jaro)
Signal Warren... Look at your TV
Arlene...Just a little demonstration of
our technical capacity.
On Eddie's office TV, and all the monitors around the
building, KLAX's news show is abruptly interrupted by
brightly costumed Indian dancers screeching in Hindi. Then
another abrupt channel change to a Chinese weather report,
and then a French game show.
ARLENE
What the hell is going on?
KELLY
Now back to our regularly-scheduled
programming.
ARLENE
Cute. Look, I suppose I should be reading
you kids the riot act. But we are
prepared to air whatever you have planned
for eleven--on an exclusive basis only.
However, if you don't play ball with me,
whatever you do will be a non-event.
HORST
Nonevent?
ARLENE
We will not broadcast. And neither will
the nets or CNN, because they know we'll
sue their asses off if they do.
HORST
You're forgetting we have the power to
destroy this station.
ARLENE
And no one will see it. You're forgetting
StarNet has no particular interest in
helping you defeat Seawater.
KELLY
Then why make a deal?
ARLENE
Look. The ratings were very sweet on your
last performance. But our Instapolls show
your tactics increased Prop 17's lead by
two points in the hour since you went off
the air. People are not inclined to
support terrorist kidnappers. Though they
responded very well to Kelly.
EDDIE
Thanks for sharing, Arlene.
Eddie doesn't like where this is going. Kelly tries to hide
looking flattered.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
Hang on a minute, Arlene.
He hits the hold button again, knowing that he risks Horst's
wrath... Horst places his rifle back in Eddie's chest.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
You can blow me away now, or you can
listen for one minute... and maybe we
live through the night.
Horst removes the rifle.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
Let me negotiate with her. Give StarNet
the exclusive. Tonight all you care about
is California. No one east of the Rockies
will even be awake to watch. Tomorrow,
I'll get you coverage in every market in
America. You don't like the deal I make,
you can always blow us up later.
Horst actually smiles at Eddie. Eddie takes Arlene off hold.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
Arlene... We've come up with a plan.
ARLENE
I can hardly wait.
EDDIE
The Green Army Commandos give StarNet the
story... In exchange for certain
considerations. You keep your exclusive
live coverage, but you sell tapes on a
non-exclusive basis.
ARLENE
I'm listening.
EDDIE
This will be the lead story tomorrow, and
we own the only legal air tape. KLAX gets
seventy-five percent, you take twenty
five.
ARLENE
Vice-versa.
EDDIE
Come on, Arlene. We're the ones who are
liable to get killed.
ARLENE
There could be a lot of legal problems
with this. We're gonna have to cover it.
EDDIE
Fifty-fifty.
ARLENE
Sixty for StarNet, forty for you.
EDDIE
 Deal.
Arlene hangs up. Kelly looks to Horst.
KELLY
Time for a little pow-wow with the fuzz?
Horst nods yes. Eddie punches the call onto speakerphone.
KELLY (CONT'D)
(very friendly)
Hi there, Captain Calderon. Kelly Jordan
here, Minister of Information for the
Green Army Commandos.
EXT. KLAX - SAME TIME
The police presence gets bigger. Squad cars, a SWAT Team, a
police helicopter hovers overhead.
CALDERON
Yes, ma'am. Quite an impressive
performance.
CUT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN CALDERON AND EDDIE'S OFFICE.
KELLY
(looking at Horst)
It's nice to know I'm appreciated.
(back to business)
Listen, Captain. We've been thinking
about your words of wisdom, and maybe
you're right. We are willing to consider
a significant hostage release in return
for a teeny-tiny concession on your part.
CALDERON
That is welcome news, Miss Jordan.
Assuming your requirements are
reasonable.
KELLY
Call me Kelly, please. Listen, you don't
interfere with KLAX's transmission, and
we release the hostages at the beginning
of the eleven o'clock news. Is that
reasonable enough?
Kelly grins.
CALDERON
Indeed it is, Kelly.
KELLY
Great. Of course, to insure you live
up€to your end of the bargain, we keep
just four hostages...
CALDERON
Only four...
 KELLY
...the news team. Toby Inman, Heather
Blake and Carl Mendoza, plus the station
manager Edward Franker.
Calderon takes a deep breath.
CALDERON
I have to pass it on to my superiors, but
we might be able to work something out.
HORST
I thought as much.
Calderon hangs up.
EDDIE
You mind telling me what happens next?
KELLY
Don't worry, Mr. Franker. It's gonna be
great TV.
INT. NEWS SET - 11:00
Backstage, commando cameramen with Uzis stand guard.
Onscreen: The KLAX ACTION NEWS INTRO.
ANNOUNCER
The KLAX Action News at Eleven, with Toby
Inman, Heather Blake with weather... and
Carl Mendoza, Sports.
Cut to Toby at the anchor desk. He's freaking out.
TOBY
Hey, what's with the teleprompter!
KELLY
(off screen)
Wing it.
TOBY
At the top of the news, uh...
Heather grimaces and rolls her eyes as Toby phumphers
along...
TOBY (CONT'D)
Uh... Our lead story tonight is uh, us.
The hostage situation here at KLAX where
an environmental action group... calling
itself the Green Army Commandos has taken
control of the station. After, uh, after
negotiations with the Los Angeles Police,
the Green Army Commandos have agreed to
release all hostages except...
EXT. STATION - SAME TIME
The station staff hostages stream from the building and dash
across the parking lot toward the now enormous police cordon
and freedom from their ordeal...
INT. NEWS SET - SAME TIME
On the monitor a shaky, slightly out of focus shot of the
hostage release.
TOBY
Um, our apologies for any technical
problems, but this ah, coverage is being
brought to you by the Green Army's own
cameraman...Uh, now what do we do?
Toby looks toward the control room. Eddie is there, with
Horst, Kelly and Warren. Helen hands Toby a piece of paper
with instructions.
TOBY (CONT'D)
(reading off the paper)
Now, we go, uh, outside the station to...
EXT. STATION - 11:03 PM
The cameraman's hand reaches out and pins a microphone on
ANTHONY ELLINGWOOD, a rail thin, sickly looking man with pock
marked skin and patches of gray hair. Ellingwood is dressed
in blue jeans, a red flannel shirt and an orange vest that
looks like a life preserver.
ELLINGWOOD
My name is Anthony Ellingwood. I used to
be a technician at the Long Beach
offshore nuclear desalination plant....
TOBY
(OS, as we stay tight on
Ellingwood)
Mr. Ellingwood, this is Toby Inman...
For the viewers who may not know, that's
the pilot plant for the Seawater Project,
is that right?
ELLINGWOOD
Yea. It demonstrates the catastrophe that
will happen if the real thing gets
built....
FOR THE REST OF THIS SCENE WE CUT BETWEEN VARIOUS LOCATIONS-
ELLINGWOOD OUTSIDE THE STATION/INSIDE THE NEWS SET TO TOBY/
EDDIE, HORST AND KELLY WATCHING ON THE VARIOUS MONITORS IN
THE CONTROL ROOM/ OUT TO CALDERON'S MOBILE HQ/AND INTO TOBY'S
LIVING ROOM WHERE HIS WIFE CLAIRE WATCHES...
TOBY
You're talking about Proposition
Seventeen, the bond issue we'll be voting
on in tomorrow's primary--about whether
 to fund a series of eight nuclear
reactors between San Diego and Moro Bay
that will uh, desalinate... or take the
salt out of, uh, massive amounts of
seawater to relieve the drought...
Warren puts a graphic map of the project on the screen.
ELLINGWOOD
Just give us twenty-five billion
taxpayers' dollars, and we'll save sunny
California.
TOBY
We sure do need the water...
ELLINGWOOD
Of course we need the water! Because the
same greedy pigs who say they can end
this water shortage, created the drought
in the first place... by convincing forty
million of us assholes that you can turn
the desert into an air-conditioned oasis.
And as a bonus, everyone gets their own
backyard swimming pool.
TOBY
But Long Beach has been up and running
for a year with no problem... Even after
last October's earthquake.
ELLINGWOOD
Right, no problem! Just your average
California quake. But even that was
enough to crack the reactor's internal
shielding. No problem! Just a little
leaky radiation... AND ONLY ONE WORKER
WAS KILLED!
Toby looks genuinely surprised.
TOBY
There were no reports of death or injury.
ELLINGWOOD
Of course there weren't reports! What do
you think they're gonna do, announce it!
Admit it can't even handle a lousy little
five-point-O.
TOBY
How do you know this?
Shaky camera zooms in tight on Ellingwood.
ELLINGWOOD
Because the worker they killed... is ME!
Back on a shocked Toby.
 ELLINGWOOD
(CONT'D)
Now do I have your attention?
Ellingwood's tone shifts to an intense and eerie quiet.
ELLINGWOOD
(CONT'D)
'Nothing to worry about' the company
doctors said. Just minor radiation
exposure. We wouldn't even be giving you
this sick leave and a vacation on Maui,
if it weren't for the anti-Seawater types
who would use this to kill Prop 17 and
cost us all our jobs...
Toby is stunned.
TOBY
You weren't suspicious?
ELLINGWOOD
Me? I'm just a dumb tech. The company
doctor said I'd be fine. I didn't want to
lose my job. And I'd never been to
Hawaii.
TOBY
Some people might consider that hush
money.
ELLINGWOOD
No shit Sherlock... Of course it was hush
money! They said I should stay away 'til
after the referendum. They just didn't
tell me why.
TOBY
Why didn't you go to the press?
ELLINGWOOD
You think I didn't try. I even contacted
your station. No one called me back.
These are powerful people, with huge
money at stake. They made sure no one
would touch it.
TOBY
Well, why should we believe you, Mr.
Ellingwood?
As Ellingwood walks down the final stairs into the parking
lot, the camera loses him.
ELLINGWOOD
Look at me. Tell me I'm not dying.
The camera jerks back, finds him again. Close on his sunken
eyes and hollow cheeks. Then we pull back to see Ellingwood
full body...
 ELLINGWOOD
(CONT'D)
When they tell you I didn't get a fatal
dose, that their reactor is safe... Ask
them why I did this...
Ellingwood backs away from the building. He stops, looks
directly into the lens. The camera refocuses. We cut from
Toby, to Eddie, Horst and Kelly in the control room, to
Calderon and the police, to Claire--back to Heather and Carl,
all with eyes glued to the scene. Nobody breathes.
ELLINGWOOD
(CONT'D)
Don't let these bastards do to you what
they did me. Me... I'm gonna die anyway.
But you don't have to...
He slips his hand inside his orange vest... Then he
genuflects and looks toward the sky...
ELLINGWOOD
(CONT'D)
Here's my vote against Proposition
Seventeen...
Then... AN EXPLOSION... A BLAST OF RED AND ORANGE FLAME fills
the screen...The camera holds as the flame dissipates to a
cloud of smoke... And then nothing, but a dark spot on the
concrete...
ANTHONY ELLINGWOOD HAS BLOWN HIMSELF UP.
For a moment the camera holds on the spot. No one knows what
to do. Finally Warren, the commando/director punches up the
studio camera.
Inside, there is stunned silence. The camera comes to rest on
Toby who just stares at the shot of the empty parking lot,
literally in shock.
WARREN
(cues Toby in his earpiece)
Go to a fookin' commercial.
TOBY
Uh... Oh my god... We'll be right back
after this. Oh my...
Toby's head collapses on the desk. They go to commercial; an
ad for a psychic hot line.
ANNOUNCER
Call now and get six minutes free. Plus,
this complimentary power-crystal...
INT. CONTROL ROOM - 11:09PM
Eddie reaches for a cigarette. His hands shake so much Kelly
has to light it for him. They look into each other's eyes.
It's as though Kelly finally realizes what she's gotten
herself into to. They look at Horst. Is he actually enjoying
it?
INT. NEWS SET - SAME TIME
Helen and Jaro train guns on Toby, Carl and Heather. They're
going to have to finish the show.
TOBY
Eddie? Warren? What now?
Toby takes a very deep breath. Then another.
HEATHER
I can do the weather.
TOBY
The weather?
Toby can't believe this woman. Carl admires her nerve.
HEATHER
(to Toby)
You have a better idea, Einstein?
He doesn't.
WARREN
This is unfookin' believable.
TOBY
Now, uh, here's Heather Blake with
tonight's... uh weather...
God help us.
Heather starts the weather report. It's surreal.
INT. CONTROL ROOM - 11:22 PM
On the monitor, Heather goes through the motions, smiling as
she reports another five day forecast of insufferable, heat,
smog and no rain in sight. Warren signals Eddie to pick up
the phone.
ARLENE
(on the speaker)
Jesus, Eddie, that was fucking amazing!
EDDIE
Gee, Arlene. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
ARLENE
But what the fuck are you doing? A guy
just blew himself up on the air, and
you're doing the fucking weather. You
gotta put the terrorists back on the air.
Every other network is reporting what
just happened on our station, and we've
 got weather. Terrorists! Now!
HORST
We're not terrorists. We're commandos.
ARLENE
Whatever...
EDDIE
Arlene...
ARLENE
Do it!
EDDIE
This is crazy!
ARLENE
There's a protest gathering at the
SeaWater Plant in Long Beach. I got you a
satellite truck to cover it.
EDDIE
You did?
ARLENE
You bet I did. We're getting our asses
kicked on our own story.
EDDIE
Thanks for your help, Arlene. I'll pay
for it later, I'm sure.
ARLENE
If there is a later, Franker. The
satellite truck will be there in three
minutes. I want our terrorists to talk to
the demonstrators.
WARREN
That's a fookin' brilliant idea.
EDDIE
Don't you think that might be a wee bit
over the top, Arlene? Not to mention how
the FBI might feel about it.
ARLENE
Don't worry about them. Aunt Arlene is
handling everything.
INT. NEWSROOM - 11:17 PM
Horst and Kelly take seats on opposite sides of Toby.
HEATHER
(in the background)
And our five day forecast...
TOBY
 What's going on?
HORST
You're going to interview us.
TOBY
Uh, Eddie, uh Warren. I need a script on
the prompter if I'm gonna do an
interview.
WARREN
Gee guy, I guess we just forgot to bring
a fookin' scriptwriter.
Eddie grabs the headset. Talks into Toby's ear.
EDDIE
Listen to me! Some guys wait their whole
lives for a moment like this. So prove to
me your not just a dumb hick from Georgia
and act like a goddamn newsman....
TOBY
(under his breath)
They didn't teach this at L.S.U...
Toby looks at Horst's menacing smile and his rifle. Warren
cues them... They're on the air.
HEATHER
(continuing on camera)
Temperatures hover at the century mark...
TOBY
Thanks, Heather.
HEATHER
Excuse me, I'm not finished.
TOBY
Yes your are... You're done.
She's miffed at being cut off, but maintains her weathergirl
smile.
TOBY (CONT'D)
With me now are our uh, captors. Kelly
Jordan... And Horst uh...Kingleman...
HORST
(offended)
Klingerman... Horst Klingerman.
Chairperson of the Green Army Commandos.
From the booth Warren directs the commando/cameramen.
Throughout the scene they're always just a little behind,
making for some jerky camera moves and weird angles. Calderon
and the ever-increasing police force watch on a TV outside.
KELLY
 (taking over)
Thanks, Toby. I guess the question is,
what's this all about? Who are we? What
are we doing? What do we want?
Kelly, except for Uzi, has the demeanor of an actress doing a
commercial for dish-washing detergent.
KELLY (CONT'D)
Here's the answer... We believe there is
nothing as important as the life and
death of this planet. If that makes us
fanatics, okay. We're fanatics.
EXT. LONG BEACH - OUTSIDE THE SEATWATER PILOT PLANT - NIGHT
Demonstrators gather along the coast in front of the SEAWATER
PLANT pumping station. They hold banners protesting Prop 17,
and in memory of 'Our Hero' Anthony Ellingwood.
As more cars stream off the freeway, a police bus arrives.
Cops in riot gear and shields stream out and push through the
crowd.
INT. STATION - SAME TIME
Toby, Horst and Kelly watch on their monitors.
TOBY
This is the, uh, scene outside the
Seawater plant in Long Beach...
Warren cues Toby in his earpiece.
TOBY (CONT'D)
We're going out there live to talk to the
demonstrators... Hello...
Ear-splitting feedback from the remote truck, as the
demonstrators cover their ears...
TOBY (CONT'D)
Can you year me out there...
The demonstrators quiet for a moment.
TOBY (CONT'D)
This is Toby Inman at KLAX-TV. Live in
our studio with the Green Army Commandos.
A cheer goes up from the crowd.
HORST
(interrupts)
Put the camera on me Warren. I wish to
say something.
The camera finally finds him. Toby looks put out by the
interruption.
 HORST (CONT'D)
First, you must vote against the Seawater
Referendum. But that is not enough.
TOBY
It isn't?
HORST
Anthony Ellingwood took action. He was
willing to die for this cause. He took
his own life, to say 'Enough.' Enough! He
saw. They were willing to let him die in
the name of their corporate profits.
And they're willing to let us all die.
Drought, global warming. Water shortages.
This is about greed. Defeating the
Seawater Referendum is a first step. We
cannot afford to fail. But we must do
more than just vote.
KELLY
Hey, Horst....
HORST
Let me finish, Kelly!
KELLY
...this wasn't what...
HORST
We must do more than talk!
They talk over each other.
KELLY
...we agreed to stick to the point...
HORST
It's time to take to the streets.
KELLY
...vote tomorrow to defeat Seawater...
Horst lets the Uzi slide from his shoulder and grips it like
he's ready to fire.
HORST
Quiet, Kelly! Let me finish.
He stands.
HORST (CONT'D)
Keep the camera on me, Warren.
Horst walks to the front of the desk.
HORST (CONT'D)
Pour into the streets...Surround this
station.. Blockade the nuclear reactor
that killed Anthony Ellingwood. Storm it
 if you have to...
The tone outside at the reactor changes with Horst's words,
as the police line gets a little more rigid, and the Riot
Police start to fondle their batons...
On the studio monitor Horst can see the tension he's
building.
KELLY
I can't tell you how deeply moved we are
to see all of you peacefully
demonstrating...
HORST
Quiet, Kelly. Turn around. It's them.
Behind those visors. They're the
henchmen.
KELLY
Horst...
And now the demonstrators are face to face with the police
line. In the control room Eddie gets nervous....
HORST
The thugs they hire with your money to
protect themselves from you...
The Police get twitchier. And Horst can sense it.
HORST (CONT'D)
Guarding their bosses... a few fat
predators at the top of the food chain
who devour our planet with no thought of
tomrrow...
And now the protestors grow angry. They move face-to-face
with the police. They begin to taunt the cops... The police
line takes one step forward... brandishing their batons.
HORST (CONT'D)
Yea, you. You call yourselves 'Peace
Officers.' How about 'Gestapo.'
Horst knows this is his moment.
HORST (CONT'D)
Now, tell your police to stand aside...
You can take direct action. We can all be
Anthony Ellingwood. March down that pier
and occupy that pumping station.
Kelly has her head in her hands. Toby sits paralyzed and
transfixed by the scene. Eddie is going nuts.
EDDIE
Cut! Cut!
Warren ignores him.
 HORST
Shut it down! Shut it down! Join us!
And now the crowd facing off with the police. Surges forward.
CROWD
Shut it down! Shut it down!
And there's the moment. The break. The Remote camera shakes
as CHAOS ERUPTS. The demonstrators push forward into the
police. The Police respond. Arms linked they move forward and
begin beating the demonstrators. IT'S A FULL-FLEDGED RIOT.
HORST
(fanning the flames)
It happened at the Berlin Wall. In South
Africa... in Tianamen.
EDDIE
Cut! Cut!
Warren looks to Kelly for instructions. She signals for him
to cut...
On the monitor, the scene cuts to an attractive young woman
holding a baby that stops crying as she applies Desitin
ointment for diaper rash... Horst keeps ranting, doesn't
realize he's off the air.
HORST
United, we have the power to topple
governments. They cannot stop us...
INT. FBI REGIONAL HQ - 8:45PM
FBI Regional director ELTON CARSWELL, in his dark blue FBI
suit, stands in a wood-panelled conference room. AGENTS take
notes as Carswell outlines plans to storm the KLAX building.
INTERCUT CARSWELL WITH EDDIE'S OFFICE - SAME TIME
Eddie answers his line.
EDDIE
Calderon?
ELTON CARSWELL
No sir. This is Elton Carswell, FBI.
Last night's show kind of racheted this
whole thing up a few notches.
HORST
Has American democracy sunk so low that
calls for peaceful demonstration against
an insane policy...
ELTON CARSWELL
(interrupts)
Look. I'm not interested in debating you.
 If you attempt to broadcast again we will
stop you. Is that clear?
HORST
Quite. Now let me be clear. If you do, I
will blow up this building.
ELTON CARSWELL
There's a high probability, you're
bluffing, Mr. Klingerman. We might be
willing to call you on it.
HORST
Don't force us to create a panic, Mr.
Carswell.
ELTON CARSWELL
What are you talking about?
HORST
The explosives that mine this building
are evenly salted with a kilo of finely
powdered plutonium.
The activity in Carswell's office comes to a screeching halt.
ELTON CARSWELL
(beside himself)
P-p-plutonium? You expect us to believe
you have an atomic bomb?
Eddie just about falls over backward in his chair. Catches
himself and lights a cigarette.
HORST
I wouldn't insult your intelligence by
claiming to have a nuclear device--that's
far beyond our meager resources. But if
you force us to blow up this building,
there will be a large chemical explosion
that will disperse a cloud of plutonium
over the entire city of Los Angeles.
ELTON CARSWELL
I-I-I don't believe you.
HORST
There's a United Parcel Box on the corner
of Sunset and Vine. Inside you will find
a package containing four ounces of
weapons grade plutonium. It should help
dispel any doubts.
Carswell snaps his fingers, signalling an agent to get to
Sunset and Vine, ASAP.
KELLY
You agree not to mess with our
transmission, we don't freak out the
public. This can be our little secret.
 Okay, Mr. G-Man?
Horst disconnects Carswell.
EDDIE
Blow up the world to save it? It makes no
sense.
KELLY
And the Seawater project does?
INT. CAFETERIA - 1:17AM
Toby, Heather and Carl spread out on air mattresses on the
cafeteria floor. Carl snores while Helen and Jaro stand
guard. Eddie returns. They haven't seen him in hours.
HEATHER
Mr. Franker, you're all right!
EDDIE
What did I tell you?
HEATHER
I'm sorry. Eddie.
EDDIE
Yea, I'm all right.
Jaro moves closer.
HEATHER
(in her best dumb blonde)
You don't mind if we talk?
Jaro backs off as she bats her eyes at him.
CARL
(waking up from a nap)
So?
EDDIE
So... we've negotiated a little cease
fire, until...
Eddie collapses onto an air mattress.
TOBY
Until what?
EDDIE
At least until morning. Long enough for
an old man to get a little sleep.
TOBY
What happens then?
HEATHER
Can't you see he's exhausted?
 TOBY
Excuse me, Weathergirl. I don't think I
asked you.
EDDIE
It's all right.
HEATHER
I'm a Meteorologist.
EDDIE
Kelly and Horst let me negotiate a deal.
TOBY
Kelly and Horst?
CARL
You call your terrorists by their first
names? Do the words "Stockholm Syndrome"
mean anything to you?
TOBY
What?
HEATHER
That's when hostages start to identify
with their captors.
EDDIE
It's not like that. It's more of a
professional relationship... Mutual self
interest.
CARL
A professional thing? Great. When this is
over, we can all do lunch.
EDDIE
Listen. So far, we're still on the air...
and WE'RE STILL ALIVE. You have a problem
with that?
CARL
I just know it's not smart to get too
chummy with these people.
EDDIE
I'll try and remember that next time the
guy puts a machine-gun in my ribs.
Carl backs off.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
Now if you don't mind. I gotta get some
shut-eye.
DAY 2
INT. EDDIE'S OFFICE - 7:30 AM
Eddie, Horst and Kelly watch the scene outside as the police
presence continues to grow.
ARLENE
(on the computer screen)
I gotta hand it to you. That was quite a
performance. Your provocation outsmarted
the Instapolls. You've turned Prop 17
into a contest. Plus, I've got the FCC,
FBI and Justice Department screaming to
take you off the air.
EDDIE
Tell them to get stuffed.
Horst and Kelly beam.
ARLENE
Here's the deal. I want live bulletins
every 30 minutes. Exclusive stuff from
inside the hostage situation. Can you do
that?
She doesn't wait for an answer.
ARLENE (CONT'D)
Good. If Seawater loses we better have a
plan to make StarNet some real money...
or our asses are grass.
EXT. KLAX STATION - 9:30 AM
In the wake of the plutonium threat, a SPECIAL TEAM arrives
dressed in anti-radiation suits. The station parking lot is
rimmed by police vans on all sides.
INT. NEWS ROOM - SAME TIME
TOBY
(on the air)
Authorities deny reports of plans to
storm KLAX. Story at 6 and 11.
INT. ENGINEERING BOOTH - 12 NOON
Warren sets up four monitors so Eddie can watch the local,
national and international coverage of the KLAX hostage
situation. Eddie takes another drag off a Winston and flips
channels as he talk to Arlene.
ARLENE
We're getting our butts kicked on our own
kidnapping.
EDDIE
Jeez, Arlene. Help me out here. At least
get me back the live van.
ARLENE
Jeez yourself, Eddie. The police are
 holding it as evidence. After last night
I could be F. Lee Bailey with dirty
videos of the entire Supreme Court, and I
couldn't get your live truck back.
EDDIE
What do you want me to do? Get the Green
Army Commandos to blow up the building?
ARLENE
Wouldn't do any good. Not without decent
pictures. Everyone's got cameras out
there except you.
He watches the coverage. CNN is live. Every station in L.A.
has a chopper and mobile units outside. Voters going to the
polls in record numbers. And KLAX can't cover it.
ARLENE (CONT'D)
But what do you have that CNN, the nets
and those crappy independents don't?
EDDIE
You want me to put them back on the air?
ARLENE
Have Inman do an interview. Don't start
til 6:30. That way you'll hit the Prime
Time window on the East Coast. And we can
alert the affiliates.
EDDIE
But Klingerman's liable to go off again.
ARLENE
No problem. We don't need him. Just go
with Kelly. The Instapolls say she's the
one the audience likes.
Warren is getting a big kick out of this.
EDDIE
Arlene! I'm their hostage. I can't tell
him he can't go on because he's bad for
the ratings...
ARLENE
You want me to talk to him? I've got the
polling data right here.
INT. NEWS SET - 4PM
Toby on-air for a promo.
TOBY
Meet the Commandos. Only here on KLAX-TV,
Action News at 6.
INT. NEWSROOM - 5:30PM
Toby tears a story from the AP wire.
TOBY
Check it out. Exit polls predict
Seawater will lose!
Horst and Kelly grab the copy, read it and smile proudly.
TOBY (CONT'D)
Now you'll release us, right?
KELLY
After we tie up a few odds and ends.
CARL
Odds and ends?
HELEN
To successfully terminate the action.
CARL
Terminate the action?
KELLY
Negotiate our way out of here.
CARL
You really think you can cut a deal?
KELLY
We're holding the cards.
TOBY
Meaning us?
HELEN
And the plutonium.
TOBY CARL AND
HEATHER
Plutonium?!!!
KELLY
Franker didn't tell you?
They all turn to look at Eddie in the booth. He shrugs.
KELLY (CONT'D)
We informed the FBI that our explosives
are laced with plutonium. Enough to
contaminate most of Los Angeles.
Heather and Carl instinctively reach for each other.
HEATHER
You'd really do that?
CARL
You can't bullshit the FBI?
 HORST
Your lives depend on the authorities
belief in that plutonium, Mr. Mendoza.
Eddie calls from the booth.
EDDIE
Horst, we gotta talk.
Eddie pulls Horst and Kelly aside.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
I'll be honest with you. Every major
network has big coverage of our story.
Without The Green Army Commandos, the
ratings stink.
HORST
Putting us on before the polls close
could prove counterproductive.
EDDIE
On the other hand, you'll have a national
audience, right in the middle of prime
time. You'll have a chance to really get
your message out. After the election's
over they might lose interest.
KELLY
He has a point.
Horst mulls it over.
EDDIE
Just one thing... They only want Kelly.
HORST
Excuse me?
EDDIE
The Instapolls show that the audience, uh
responds better to Kelly.
HORST
This is preposterous.
EDDIE
Let me give it to you straight. You scare
them, Horst. You piss them off. They
don't like you. Her, they like.
KELLY
No go, Eddie. If this is some cheap trick
to divide us, forget it. We're a team. I
don't go on without Horst.
HORST
All I want to do is save the planet. Why
would people not like me?
For a moment Eddie wonders if Horst might be genuinely hurt.
INT. LADIES ROOM - 6:15PM
Heather does last minute touches on her makeup. Kelly enters,
looks in the mirror. Pats her hair.
HEATHER
Here.
Heather offers a hairbrush. Kelly takes it. Heather finds a
lipstick she likes and holds it out to Kelly.
HEATHER (CONT'D)
This is a great color for you...
Kelly's not sure.
HEATHER (CONT'D)
Very... Vogue meets Soldier of Fortune...
Let me help you.
Kelly applies the lipstick. Heather helps with her eyeliner.
A little blush. A few more highlights. Yes, Kelly is
beautiful, but now, with Heather's little makeover, she's
become the world's most glamorous terrorist.
INT. NEWSROOM - 6:30PM
Toby and Horst do double-takes at Kelly's new look, as she
joins them on the set. Warren signals they're on the air.
TOBY
With, the, uh polls scheduled to close in
ninety minutes, it seems, uh the Seawater
Referendum will be defeated...
EDDIE WATCHES IN THE CONTROL ROOM; CARSWELL AT FBI
HEADQUARTERS; CALDERON OUTSIDE WITH THE POLICE, AND A
DISTRAUGHT CLAIRE AT HOME WITH THE KIDS.
KELLY
First, I want to say how proud I am of
the voters of California.
TOBY
Uh, maybe those voters would like to know
a little more about you. Why don't you
tell us about yourself, Kelly?
KELLY
Sure, Toby. Thanks. Gee, I hardly know
where to start. I was born in Stockholm.
TOBY
That's Sweden, right?
KELLY
(sarcastic, but nice)
Very good, Toby. But my father is
 Spanish.
TOBY
Your English is great!
KELLY
My family moved around a lot. We spent my
teenage years in London and New York. And
I really got to know America.
TOBY
And what did you see?
KELLY
I saw that this may be the richest nation
on earth and the most powerful. And it's
truly a land of opportunity. But it's
also a country full of racial conflict,
and poverty and injustice. And I knew
even then that I wanted to do my part to
help this country live up to its promise.
TOBY
We all want the world to be a better
place, but how do you go from there to an
uzi?
KELLY
I started to believe, to become really
passionate about, I know this might sound
corny, but, saving the world. And I met
this guy, a university professor, angry,
a little tortured maybe, but brilliant,
and he had such passion...
Horst blushes.
TOBY
You're talking about Horst Klingerman?
HORST
(scolding)
That's enough, Kelly! We're not playing
Oprah here.
Kelly shrinks in her chair.
HORST (CONT'D)
We didn't seize this TV station to fill
the air with empty blathering.
TOBY
Well, what about you, Horst?
HORST
Why don't you ask a meaningful question?
TOBY
I suppose you could do better?
 HORST
If I were conducting this interview, I
would try to find out why I was being
held prisoner.
TOBY
I thought it was to defeat the Seawater
Referendum. You've accomplished that.
HORST
History has been made tonight.
Horst looks directly into the camera.
HORST (CONT'D)
But we have done more than defeat this
proposition. We have aroused the American
people to take action to save our planet.
Now we must go further.
TOBY
I don't see what this has to do with a
peaceful resolution of this crisis.
KELLY
Neither do I...
HORST
I've been thinking...
No one looks reassured.
HORST (CONT'D)
The Amazon Rainforest is the largest on
the planet... and essential to maintain
an atmosphere we can breathe. Still, it
is being destroyed at an alarming rate.
Most of this vital rainforest is in
Brazil.
TOBY
Brazil...
HORST
For decades, well-meaning governments and
activists have been trying to persuade
the Brazilian regime to preserve this
precious resource. The time for talk is
over. The Green Army Commandos demand the
Brazilian government end all logging,
ranching and farming in the Rainforest or
face the consequences.
TOBY
Consequences?
HORST
It's very simple. We demand that the
government of the United States
immediately implement a naval blockade of
 the Brazilian Coast.
TOBY
A blockade? You can't be serious?
HORST
And we call upon the American people to
boycott Brazilian coffee until that
government meets our demands.
TOBY AND KELLY
Boycott Coffee???!!!
Toby drops his head in his hands. Kelly looks shocked.
HORST
Only when they agree, will we discuss
terms to end this hostage situation.
INT. STATION CAFETERIA - 9:30PM
Heather presses the soda machine for a diet Pepsi, but the
light goes on--they're out. She settles for an orange soda.
Carl chomps on some of the Green Army's granola. Toby looks
at pictures of his kids as Eddie enters the room.
EDDIE
The good news. StarNet's thrilled at the
six o'clock numbers. So, if and when we
get out of here, we all still have
jobs...
TOBY HEATHER CARL
Terrific. Big of them. Heartwarming...
EDDIE
...and Arlene Berkowski tells me three
big-time talent agencies called to find
out if Toby has representation...
TOBY
(a little too pleased)
Really?
CARL
The bad news?
EDDIE
It may not be bad, but... higher
authorities are taking over.
CARL
Higher authorities.
EDDIE
The highest.
CARL
Meaning?
 EDDIE
The White House.
TOBY HEATHER CARL
The White House?
EDDIE
Brazil filed a protest.
CARL
Who told you this?
EDDIE
Carswell, the FBI guy. Horst's call for a
boycott is a violation of the Logan Act-
a private citizen meddling in foreign
policy--that's when the White House
stepped in.
TOBY
Who is that? The Secret Service?
EDDIE
Some political operative. They're flying
him out. Name's Coleman. Alex Coleman.
CARL
Alex Coleman?
EDDIE
Ring a bell, Carl?
CARL
Nah, I played with a guy named Alex
Coleman in the uh... Dominican League.
Just a coincidence.
DAY 3
INT. EDDIE'S OFFICE - 7AM
Kelly marches Eddie back into his office. He notices she
isn't making eye contact with Horst. It's tense between the
Commando leaders. Horst gestures at the phone.
HORST
New negotiator.
INT. GOVERNMENT PLANE - SAME TIME
ALEX COLEMAN. Nice looking, smooth. Dark blue suit and cowboy
boots. Cold, angry eyes behind a good-ole-boy demeanor and
ever-ready smile. He'd rather not kill you, but he will if he
has to, and he won't lose sleep over it.
COLEMAN
Am I on speaker? I'm guessing that Mr.
Franker, Mr. Klingerman and Ms. Jordan
are all present.
Coleman has a smooth, vaguely Southern voice, that gets more
Southern when it suits him. Takes a hit off a Yoo-hoo.
EDDIE
You guessed right.
COLEMAN
I'm what the fat cats here in Washington
call a professional 'meliorator. Special
Assistant to the President for Special
Public Relations Problems... of which
this sure seems to be a doozie.
He laughs his good-ole-boy laugh.
COLEMAN (CONT'D)
Now, y'all call me Alex. I'd like to get
us on a first-name basis right away. I
hope you don't mind if I do the same.
There's static on the line.
COLEMAN (CONT'D)
Sorry for the connection. I'm calling
from the plane. We're just 'bout right
over the Grand Canyon. Sun risin'. Sure
is a beautiful site.
HORST
That's lovely, Mr. Coleman.
But we are not particularly concerned
with your administration's image.
COLEMAN
Course you're not, Horst. Why should you
be? Your self interest lies in gettin'
your asses out of this in one piece.
HORST
Our self interest lies in stopping the
destruction of the rain forest.
COLEMAN
And the President himself agrees.
KELLY
He does.
COLEMAN
'Course he does. Does anyone think the
Brazilians are doing a service to
humanity by burnin' and cuttin' all those
trees? What we got here is a disagreement
over method.
HORST
Which means what?
COLEMAN
We have common ground. I suggest we begin
 by exchanging mutual confidence building
gestures.
HORST
Prove our hearts are in the right place?
COLEMAN
Exactly. I'm gonna go first. I'm gonna
give you something. I'd like something in
return. But even if I don't get it, you
get what I'm givin' anyway.
Horst doesn't like being played by this guy.
COLEMAN (CONT'D)
I'll bet y'all could use some soap and
shampoo, maybe some toothpaste... and
hope I'm not bein' indelicate, some
deodorant. We thought we'd put together
some CARE packages for you, leave 'em on
your doorstep and retreat.
KELLY
How do we know they're not poisoned?
COLEMAN
Pardon me for laughing, Kelly. But if you
glance outside, you'd remember we've got
enough heavy artillery to flatten the
building bout a hundred times over...
Eddie laughs nervously. Kelly and Horst glare at him, but
still don't look at each other.
COLEMAN (CONT'D)
Once you're convinced we didn't booby
trap the shaving cream, we'd like you to
have a little chow--on us, of course.
Some local outfits who wouldn't mind some
promotional consideration, have offered
up some eats. Everything from Mickey-Dees
to Spago. Your choice.
EDDIE
I don't suppose you could come up with
some decent coffee, Alex?
COLEMAN
I think that could be arranged. And I
promise, no Brazilian.
Coleman laughs at his own joke.
KELLY
This is right neighborly of you Alex, but
what's your pro quo?
COLEMAN
As you can imagine, I've got certain
pressures. Just 'tween us, the White
 House staff ain't exactly in agreement.
There are those of the opinion that
you've done too much damage already. That
if I can't get you to come in peacefully,
in say twenty-four hours, they're
prepared to terminate the situation...
one way or the other.
HORST
If we even think you're going to storm
this building, we vaporize it, and a kilo
of plutonium.
COLEMAN
Maybe you will, and maybe you won't.
HORST
What do you mean by that?
COLEMAN
Don't take this personal, Horst... but
there is a certain lack of unanimity on
that one. The boys at the White House who
calculate these things, figure the odds
on you actually killin' yourselves at
less than one in five.
HORST
You doubt my sincerity?
COLEMAN
Oh, not me, ole buddy. But I do have a
little problem with the idea of people so
pure green as yourselves pumping
plutonium into the atmosphere. And a
couple hundred thousand cancer cases
aren't exactly gonna make your cause look
too good.
KELLY
We plan to announce it first and give
people a chance to flee the city.
HORST
How about we do it right now?
Coleman takes a deep breath.
COLEMAN
It sure would help me with my colleagues,
who tend more toward the trigger happy,
if you could give me a little something.
HORST
Like what?
COLEMAN
You got four hostages who've got wives
and kids and family and friends. Worried
sick. Wouldn't it be nice if you let 'em
 all talk to each other on the phone?
KELLY
That seems reasonab--
HORST
Absolutely not!
KELLY
Come on Horst...
HORST
They could pass messages.
They glare at each other.
HORST (CONT'D)
This isn't part of the plan.
KELLY
Right. And the coffee boycott was.
COLEMAN
Now hold on there. Last thing I want is
to start an argument between you two.
Tell you what. Get yourselves all cleaned
up, have yourselves a nice meal, then
decide. Shoot. Half the world's woes
would melt away if people would stop
tryin' to solve problems on an empty
stomach. You enjoy yourselves, and I'll
be there real soon. Lookin' forward to
it.
EXT. STATION - 1:45 PM
FOUR NATIONAL GUARD TYPES approach. Behind them, workers
dressed in uniforms from Burger King, Taco Bell and Kentucky
Fried Chicken set down bags of food at the station entrance,
then retreat. An enormous order of Chinese is driven up from
Chin Chin on Sunset. Then Wolfgang Puck himself, followed by
a small army of waiters, delivers treats from Spago.
INT. CAFETERIA - 2:15PM
Food is laid out on three tables. Fast food, Chinese and
gourmet. Jaro and Lionel are about to scarf down Big Macs.
HORST
Stop. Put down the food. Where are your
manners? Our friends eat first.
He wants to make sure the food's not poisoned. Carl and Toby
have burgers. Eddie eats the Chinese. Heather goes for the
Spago. Horst and Kelly argue in a corner.
HORST (CONT'D)
...I'm still the Chairman.
KELLY
 ...food didn't they...
HORST
...unacceptable...
KELLY
...a few lousy phone calls...
Jaro and Lionel want to eat. They try to get Horst's
attention. Heather helps out.
HEATHER
(finishing her pasta)
Well, I guess we're still alive.
Horst nods that the Green Army can eat. Forget the granola,
they dive into the Big Macs.
CARL
(to Eddie, quietly)
When you were on the phone with this guy
Coleman... What did he say?
EDDIE
I told you, he's trying to get them to
let us take personal calls.
CARL
C'mon, Eddie. What else? Exactly.
EDDIE
A great ream of charming bullshit about
how the president supports saving the
rainforest...
CARL
What else?
EDDIE
Good cop, bad cop stuff. Begging them to
open the phones to, how did he put it?...
Help keep the coon dogs on their leashes.
CARL
Think Franker. What are the coon dogs
gonna do?
TOBY
Carl, what's with the interrogation?
CARL
Shut up, Toby!
Carl's intensity is freaking them out.
CARL (CONT'D)
Humor me.
Heather wanders into the conversation.
 EDDIE
He was talking about calling the
commandos bluff.
Horst and Kelly still go at it in the corner.
KELLY
...talk about undemocratic...
HORST
...no thought at all...
Carl motions them to come closer.
CARL
I'm gonna tell you something. But you
have to be cool. Don't show any reaction.
He looks into their eyes, smiling a phony smile.
CARL (CONT'D)
I know Alex Coleman.
Their eyes widen, but they don't make a sound.
CARL (CONT'D)
When I joined the Navy... I was, Cuban,
spoke fluent Spanish. I did a little...
business, in El Salvador among other
places. Coleman was my station chief.
EDDIE
And they just happen to pick him to...
Eddie gets it.
EDDIE
(CONT'D)
Oh, fuck.
Horst and Kelly are still arguing. The other Commandos hover
around them. Maybe taking sides.
HEATHER
I have an idea. Our family and friends
get to talk to us, but...
Carl and Eddie listen, intently. Toby rolls his eyes. He
still won't give Heather any respect.
HEATHER (CONT'D)
...we do it on the air. It would make it
awful hard for Coleman's guys to do
anything to get us killed after we trot
out the wives and kiddies.
EDDIE
It's diabolical. I love it.
TOBY
 How do we get Horst to go along with it?
HEATHER
I can sell it to them.
CARL
What? Tell them I went to CIA summer camp
with Coleman? I won't last ten minutes.
HEATHER
I guess not. But...
She turns toward the commandos huddle.
HEATHER (CONT'D)
Hey! I want to talk to you.
She points at Horst.
HORST
Sit down.
Heather walks toward him.
HEATHER
(in her best Marilyn)
And if I don't, you gonna shoot me?
HORST
(exasperated)
What do you want?
HEATHER
We're listening to you arguing and it's
very scary.
HORST
It has nothing to do with you.
HEATHER
You hold us prisoner in a building
surrounded by a million cops with machine
guns, threatening to blow us to pieces,
and you say it's got nothing to do with
us.
HORST
Control yourself.
HEATHER
I can't. I'm scared.
She walks the length of the room and comes face to face with
Horst. She puts her head in his chest and starts to cry.
HEATHER (CONT'D)
I don't want to die...
She's making him very uncomfortable.
 HORST
Don't cry... Please...
INT. NEWS SET - 6PM
The Action News theme music plays. Toby sits at the anchor
desk holding a telephone. Jaro and Lionel stand behind him,
holding their uzis, wearing dark glasses and explosive vests.
TOBY
Tonight, the KLAX hostages will be
talking to our families. Our first
contact since this, uh, situation began.
And you'll be seeing it live...
The screen splits; Toby on one side, Toby's living room on
the other -- Claire sits on the couch, watching herself and
Toby on the TV.
CLAIRE
Toby? Toby, can you hear me?
TOBY
Yea, honey. And I can see you on the
monitor.
CLAIRE
Are you okay?
TOBY
We're fine. The Green Army Commandos
don't want anyone to get hurt.
EXT. COLEMAN MOBILE HQ - 6:12PM
There's an organized frenzy as Coleman sets up his mobile HQ
in an FBI van parked outside the station. Coleman smiles as a
uniformed cop brings in a small fridge and a case of Yoo-hoo.
He pops one open and watches the interview.
TOBY
(on the air)
Where are the boys?
CLAIRE
Right here.
Coleman watches as Ellis and Billy climb onto the couch with
their mom. It's a beautiful family tableau.
COLEMAN
Damn. We agreed no kids.
INT. NEWS SET - 6:20
Live, Toby watches the monitor.
BILLY
Hi, daddy. Am I on TV, now?
 TOBY
Yes, Billy.
ELLIS
Bil-lee. Don't be stu-pit.
CLAIRE
Ellis, talk nice to your brother.
ELLIS
(trying to be grown up)
Is everything cool, dad? Are they
torturing you?
TOBY
(forces a smile)
No, Ellis. They're very nice people.
Billy fires an imaginary weapon.
BILLY
Machine guns, brrrrrr.
CLAIRE
Billy!
TOBY
I've gotta go now. The other hostages are
waiting to talk to their families.
CLAIRE
I love you. Wave good-bye to Daddy.
The boys wave.
TOBY
I love you, too. As long as everybody
stays patient, no one gets hurt. And
don't forget to pay the Visa bill.
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - 6:25PM
On the air, Eddie talks to his wife. ELLIE FRANKER, a
matronly, appealing woman, she lectures her husband about
taking care of himself.
ELLIE
This is not an excuse to smoke.
EDDIE
Don't worry darling, I've cut back to
three packs a day.
ELLIE
That's not funny, Edward Franker. It
wouldn't be right if anything happened to
you now. What a waste, you've been
stinking up the house with those
disgusting cigarettes for forty years and
just when you finally quit...
Eddie looks into the camera tenderly.
EDDIE
Nothing's gonna happen to me, Ellie.
ELLIE
You come home to me, Edward. Soon.
EDDIE
Soon.
Coleman's aides arrange the trailer to look like a living
room. A cameraman sets up. Coleman reacts to the Frankers.
COLEMAN
Very moving.
An older-Hispanic woman enters, escorted by Coleman's aide.
AIDE
This is Mrs. Mendoza, sir.
MAMA MENDOZA
Ay, my Carlos. I am so worried. Dios mio.
COLEMAN
Don't you worry, Mrs. Mendoza. We're
gonna get your Carlos out of there. But I
am going to need your help...
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - 6:4O PM
The camera rolls on Mama Mendoza. The screen is split between
her and Carlos.
MAMA MENDOZA
Carlos, I'm so scared.
CARL
Just relax, mama. I'll be fine.
MAMA MENDOZA
That's not what I mean, I've never been
on TV before. I hope my hair looks okay.
CARL
You look beautiful, mamacita.
MAMA MENDOZA
Carlos, are you eating?
Carl smiles.
MAMA MENDOZA
(CONT'D)
Ay Carlos, you'll never guess who's here.
Your brother, Ramon. Ramon is here. He
came home just to see you.
 CARL
Ramon is there? Wow.
RAMON
Yo, bro. Don't worry about mama. I'll
take care of her till you come home. But
hurry. The boys are organizing a little
midnight football for Friday night.
Remember midnight football. Remember that
play. Fourth and goal. Midnight. You take
out the quarterback. We intercept the
pass. The old team's rooting for you,
bro.
CARL
That's great, Ramon.
RAMON
Hey, man. What's a brother for? I love
you, man.
MAMA MENDOZA
Te quiero, Carlitos.
CARL
I love you too, Mama.
INT. NEWS SET - 6:50PM
Heather on screen talks to her GRANDMA, the woman who raised
her. Grandma lays it on thick.
GRANDMA
After we lost her parents in the
accident, she was so courageous...
HEATHER
Grandma...
GRANDMA
I don't know what I'd do without her...
INT. COLEMAN'S TRAILER - 6:43PM
COLEMAN
It's a friggin' soap opera.
On screen, Grandma gets a close up.
GRANDMA
All you have to do is use your telephone
or send G-Mail...
HEATHER
That's E-mail, grandma.
GRANDMA
...or send a telegram, if the Western
Union's still in business. Tell the
people in charge it's more important to
 save one good girl's life than to punish
a few misguided people who really haven't
hurt anyone far as I can see...
Grandma starts to cry.
COLEMAN
Shit.
Heather cries too. And they might even be real tears.
INT. CAFETERIA - 7:15PM
Eddie toasts Heather with a Pepsi as the news team and the
commandos eat pizza. Carl is less jubilant.
EDDIE
Well here's to the better third of the
KLAX news team. You deserve champagne.
CARL
I'll bet there wasn't a dry eye in the
house.
TOBY
That bit with your grandmother. I have to
admit, it was brilliant. They'd never
storm the station after that.
CARL
Keep those cards and letters coming...
TOBY
Hey, lighten up, man. It all went great.
Your segment, too. Your mother, your
brother, real people...
Carl looks over at Helen and Jaro who scarf pizza and keep
half an eye on their captives, Uzis always present.
CARL
(so he won't be overheard)
Then the Emmy definitely goes to Ramon...
'Cause I don't have a fucking brother.
INT. EDDIE'S OFFICE - 12:02AM
Eddie, Kelly and Horst watch CNN's coverage of the hostage
phone call show. Arlene's on the speaker.
ARLENE
The White House is freaking out. Ten
thousand hits in the last ten minutes on
the President's web site, and the
affiliates are thrilled with the numbers.
HORST
Always glad to accommodate you, Arlene.
ARLENE
 But legal is running up serious red ink.
The only way to stay profitable is with
prime-time specials. Think market share,
people.
EDDIE
We're trying not to plan too far ahead
here, Arlene. We'd kind of like to go
home.
ARLENE
Hey. That's up to you. Point is, as a
straight news story, this is about over.
KELLY
I have an idea. We talk directly to the
people. Take their phone calls.
Kelly looks to Horst for his reaction. He has none.
EDDIE
Let the American people speak directly to
the Green Army Commandos. I like it.
ARLENE
Sounds like talk radio. And no offense,
but, Toby's not exactly Larry King.
HORST
We're not interested in ratings, Arlene.
We're interested in saving the planet.
ARLENE
If a tree gets saved in the rainforest
and no one's watching...
HORST
What?
ARLENE
Never mind. No one's come up with
anything better. I'll run it past the
affiliates and get back to you.
INT. CAFETERIA - SAME TIME
Carl continues telling his story to Toby and Heather.
CARL
Look, you can't even tell Franker. He's
in too tight with these people.
TOBY
Spit it out, Carl.
He leans in close.
CARL
They're going to rush the station. At
midnight. Tomorrow. Friday night
 football...
HEATHER
That's what that meant?
CARL
I'm supposed to take out the quarterback.
HEATHER
Horst?
Carl nods.
CARL
They decided Kelly doesn't have what it
takes to pull the trigger. If I can take
out Horst...
TOBY
What about the rest of them. They're all
armed.
HEATHER
Way to step up, Toby.
TOBY
Carl... this is crazy. There's no way.
HEATHER
And what do you think happens if we just
stand by and watch. What a fucking wimp.
They look at one another, realize it's very, very grim odds.
TOBY
These people will kills us.
CARL
The powers that be mean to end this.
Pronto. At least they're giving us a
fighting chance.
DAY 4
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - 8:15 AM
Coleman is flanked by a group of military types. He displays
a detailed map of the ground beneath the station--decorated
with colored arrows and numerous points of entry. PLANNING
THE INVASION. He speaks to the Green Army Commandos.
COLEMAN
I gotta tell you. I am not in a very
conciliatory mood. Not after that little
scam you walked me into.
INT. EDDIE'S OFFICE - SAME TIME - WE CUT BETWEEN THE TWO
KELLY
Scam?
 COLEMAN
Either I've been taken for a ride or
Heather Blake has one media savvy
grandma. You think we don't know you fed
her instructions.
Eddie draws deeply on a Winston.
HORST
So you're angry with us, and you're
tapping our phones. Neither comes as a
great revelation.
COLEMAN
What I'm trying to tell you is that I'm
the only thing standing between you and
all that heavy ordnance outside.
HORST
At the first sign of--
COLEMAN
Yea, yea, I know, I know. You'll blow the
whole shitpile to kingdom come. The
people I work for... how do I put
this?... They don't give a shit.
HORST
Then maybe we should let the people of
Los Angeles know about our little
plutonium problem?
COLEMAN
You might want to take that back,
Klingerman.
HORST
I might?
COLEMAN
My bosses figure getting you off the air
is preferable to letting this PR
nightmare fester... At a certain point
there's only so much even your ol' buddy
Alex can do. So you go ahead with your
little afternoon call-in. But just
remember... that point's getting mighty
close.
INT. NEWS SET - 5:58 PM
Two minutes to air. Toby sits on a couch. Horst and Kelly on
either side of him. A phone with five lines sits on a coffee
table in front of them. The lights are already blinking.
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - SAME TIME
Coleman's trailer looks like a casting call. He hands out
index cards to a group of TEN PEOPLE who each sit in front of
a telephone.
COLEMAN
Speak out, America...
INT. NEWS SET - 6:00PM
TOBY
Good evening. For the next hour, it's
going to be your show, your chance to
speak directly to America's best-known
terrorists...
Horst clears his throat with disapproval.
TOBY (CONT'D)
Uh, Commandos. Let's go right to the
phones. Our number is 1-800 COM-ANDO.
INT. ENGINEERING BOOTH - SAME TIME
Eddie, Heather and Carl wear headsets. They screen calls,
then put them through to Toby.
CALLER
I'm Sheila.
KELLY
Where you calling from, Sheila?
CALLER
Sacramento?
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - SAME TIME
We see that 'Shiela,' the caller, is actually speaking from a
phone in Coleman's trailer.
She looks at Coleman. He smiles and nods his head, 'yes.'
TOBY
Sheila, your question for the Green Army
Commandos...
SHEILA
I want to know what right Americans have
to tell other people what to do, when
we're the biggest eco-pigs of all?
Coleman gives her a thumbs up.
KELLY
America is the only country with the
power to lead. If you set the example,
others will follow...
HORST
But if they won't do it voluntarily, then
we must use... other means.
 CALLER
But you're saying we should be a
terrorist nation...
Kelly flashes Horst a disapproving look.
HORST
You need to remember, we're Commandos,
not talk show hosts.
INT. CONTROL ROOM/COLEMAN'S HQ - 6:18PM
One of Coleman's callers is being screened by Eddie.
CALLER
I want to know how you tell the
difference between Brazilian coffee, and
let's say Colombian or French roast....
EDDIE
Sounds like a good question. Stay on the
line.
Heather and Carl also nod and put callers through.
INT. NEWS SET/COLEMAN'S HQ - 6:23PM
Toby puts Eddie's caller on the air.
CALLER
I wanted to know more about Horst.
He's not asking about French roast...
HORST
I don't see what relevance this has--
CALLER
What are you? Pushing 50? No wife, no
kids, no career. No life.
HORST
I don't see the need to dignify this.
Toby punches another line.
CALLER
I'd like to know if Horst and Kelly are
lovers.
KELLY
That's really no one's business.
CALLER
Sure it is. 'Cause how it looks from here
is that Kelly's being taken advantage of
by a frustrated older man who is showing
off in a desperate attempt to get laid.
HORST
 Next.
Coleman nods with approval as another of his callers picks up
a phone.
CALLER
I'd like Horst and Kelly to look Toby in
the eye and tell us whether they could
really kill you.
Toby looks at them for a moment.
TOBY
I don't see--
CALLER
That's the real question, isn't it?
KELLY
We don't have to answer this guy.
HORST
I'll answer.
Horst looks at Toby. Then back at the camera.
HORST (CONT'D)
He's questioning our credibility. To
preserve life on Earth, I can and will
blow up this building and everyone in it.
CALLER
What about you Kelly? You got what it
takes?
Kelly looks shocked. For a moment like a deer in headlights.
KELLY
(recovering)
Up yours.
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - SAME TIME
Another one of Coleman's callers is on the air.
CALLER
I want to know if Horst would agree that
the industrial revolution has been a
disaster for the human race. That it has
made life unfulfilling and led to
widespread physical and psychological
suffering--especially in the third world.
HORST
I would agree with that.
CALLER
You know where that's from. Ted
Kasyncski... The Unabomber said it.
 HORST
That doesn't mean it lacks validity.
CALLER
Extremism in the pursuit of liberty is no
vice, right?
HORST
That's true.
CALLER
So you agree with the Unabomber. We both
know the real enemy of planetary survival
is the good old U.S. of A. Imperialist
overlord, free-enterprise death machine.
HORST
Yes, I suppose it is.
Kelly looks mortified.
KELLY
What Horst is trying to say--
HORST
It's very simple, Kelly... yes. We must
bring this planetary death machine, this
United States of consumption...We must
bring it to a halt!
CALLER
Blow it up if we have to?
HORST
By any means necessary.
Toby disconnects the call. He lock eyes with Horst, then
looks at the call screeners in the booth with a "What are you
guys doing?" expression. He takes another call.
TOBY
Go ahead, caller.
CALLER
I studied abroad, at the University of
Heidelberg. And we had a professor there
named Klingerman, but his name was Herb,
not Horst. But they look exactly alike.
Does Horst have a brother?
HORST
(defensive)
No. Next caller.
Toby punches up another line.
TOBY
You're live with the Green Army
Commandos.
 CALLER
(woman's voice)
I thought that was you, Herb. What's with
this Viking name? I guess Horst is better
for the terrorist thing. More macho.
Toby looks at Horst. He's seething.
CALLER (CONT'D)
It's me, Diane. God, what's it been?
Fifteen years? You know, Toby, Herb just
got so bitter when he couldn't get his
book published.
HORST
This is crazy. I don't know this woman.
CALLER
I'm for saving the planet and all that.
But it's time to do the right thing.
KELLY
What's that?
CALLER
Release your hostages and give yourselves
up. You're giving our cause a bad name.
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - 1:58PM
Onscreen, Toby wraps the show. Kelly and Horst look shell
shocked. Coleman addresses his actors.
COLEMAN
Good show, people. Thank you very much.
You all deserve Oscars. I hope this will
do instead.
He hands out checks.
COLEMAN (CONT'D)
Don't forget to sign these forms. Should
any of you break our confidentiality
agreement, you will not only forfeit your
payment... but I will guarantee, you'll
never work in this town again.
INT. NEWS SET - 2:05PM
Jaro and Lionel take their headsets off and move from behind
the studio cameras.
LIONEL
(speaks up for the first time)
Chingada, Horst.
LIONEL (CONT'D)
No man, it's Herb.
WARREN
 What's with the fookin' crazy talk. We're
supposed to do good here.
Kelly, and now Helen join in a free-for-all argument about
Horst's performance on the air... as The Green Army breaks
into factions.
INT. ENGINEERING BOOTH - SAME TIME
Carl and Heather watch the chaotic going's on below. He
stares at her. Admires her.
HEATHER
You're thinking we're toast, right?
Midnight football?
CARL
It's fourth down.
He stares at her. Leans toward her. Kisses her.
CARL (CONT'D)
This doesn't exactly help get us out of
here, and I know we said not at work...
She puts her hand on his mouth to shut him up.
HEATHER
Shut up and fuck me.
Heather attacks Carl, kisses him passionately... unzips
Carl's fly and pops the button on his pants. She pulls her
skirt up to her waist and sits on top of him. Carl pauses
self-consciously and looks to the window of the control room
at the mayhem and arguing on the set. Then he lets go.
They're going at it like it's the last time they'll ever make
love... and it really might be... when the control room door
suddenly swings opens.
TOBY
Carl, you've got to tell them about the
raid...
He sees Heather and Carl wrapped around each other in a
chair. He stops. Flustered, and more than a little envious,
Toby gasps. He recovers for a second.
TOBY (CONT'D)
I can't wait to tell Claire.
Toby closes the door behind him.
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - 7:50PM
Coleman stands in front of the map of the station... now more
detailed with arrows and entry ways and underground tunnels.
He instructs the SWAT team that will invade the station.
INT. EDDIE'S OFFICE - 7:52PM
News bulletins air with Instapolls showing people losing
patience with the Green Army Commandos. Man-on-the-street
interviews question Horst's sanity and integrity. Carl and
Heather have squeezed into Eddie's crowded office with Horst
and Kelly.
CARL
This so-called hostage negotiator is a
CIA agent.
HORST
How do you know this?
CARL
Because he recruited me.
Four weapons are cocked simultaneously and pointed at Carl.
HORST
Why are you telling us this... Mr. Carl.
That you are CIA? I should kill you.
CARL
I'm telling you to save my life. And
yours. The phone-in show... they set you
up.
HORST
Set me up?
CARL
Get it through your head who you're
dealing with. You think they don't have
platoons of shrinks and experts to figure
out just what is gonna push your buttons
and turn the maximum number of people
against you? Do you?... Herb?!
Horst goes pale.
CARL (CONT'D)
You've been had. Coleman gave me the
courtesy of a warning. In case anybody
really asked, he could say he gave us a
fighting chance. But we're already dead.
Especially now, with your Instapolls.
This is real. Surrender, or we die.
There's stunned silence. The realization of what is about to
happen. Then pandemonium, as they start to argue again.
KELLY
Christ, Horst--
WARREN
Never fookin' bargained for--
HELEN
Trick to divide us--
 JARO
...surrender--
LIONEL
didn't sign up for this shit...
CARL
(to Heather)
This doesn't seem to be working so
well...
KELLY
...never really played this out to the
end...
HORST
...pleased with yourself on TV...
EDDIE
Jesus Christ.
Eddie lights a cigarette. Heather gets an idea.
HEATHER
(shouting)
Stop! Wait!
The arguing continues.
KELLY
...jealous--
HORST
...at least some of us are sincere...
WARREN
...in front of them...
Heather jumps up on Eddie's desk.
HEATHER
SHUT UP!
The room quiets.
HEATHER (CONT'D)
LISTEN! You're doing just what they want
you to do. We're all gonna die, and
everything you've accomplished is going
to be blown away with you. We've got to
make it impossible for the government to
attack the building.
TOBY
How we gonna do that? We're about out of
friends and relatives.
HEATHER
Right now the Green Army Commandos are
just Kelly and Herb.
 HORST
Horst!
HEATHER
Right... Horst. Let's introduce the rest
of you. Six human beings, real people we
could all relate to and care about once
we get to know you...
KELLY
You mean like, 'Meet the Green Army
Commandos.'
HEATHER
Exactly.
EDDIE
StarNet will love it.
HORST
I still don't see how this will stop
them.
HEATHER
Picture it. An hour of sympathetic
interviews, a rainbow coalition of
concerned people willing to risk their
lives to save the planet...
TOBY
I can handle it.
HEATHER
Fuck you, Toby. This one's mine.
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ 11:00 PM
One hour to Operation "FREE TV." Weapons are handed out.
Equipment checked. Ammunition issued.
Coleman's attention goes to the TV as Heather appears on the
air for her big moment.
HEATHER
As most of you know, I'm Heather Blake,
KLAX TV's meteorologist and currently a
hostage of the Green Army Commandos...
Coleman and his crew continue preparations for the attack on
the building. Video monitors survey all of the station
entrances and show underground access to the station as well.
HEATHER (CONT'D)
(on the air)
You've been hearing a lot about the Green
Army Commandos...
COLEMAN
They're putting them back on?
 HEATHER
But what do we really know about the
other members of the group....
COLEMAN
They're up to something. I told those
bastards we should cut them off...
INT. NEWS SET - 11:04PM
Heather, live in the studio. She sees herself on the
monitors. Cameras on her. Lights. Her Barbara Walters moment.
KELLY
Tonight, we meet the Green Army
Commandos. Are they just terrorists? Or
are they concerned citizens of the planet
doing what they believe is necessary?
Eddie, Toby and Carl watch with the Commandos.
EDDIE
She's good...
Toby is jealous. Carl beams with pride for her.
HEATHER
Tonight, you decide. To cast your vote
call our toll-free number at any time
during this broadcast. 1(800)COM-ANDO.
The camera pulls back. Two shot over Heather's shoulder of
Jaro and Lionel sitting next to each other.
HEATHER (CONT'D)
Tell us about yourself, Jaro.
JARO
(nervous)
Like what?
HEATHER
Like where you grew up.
JARO
Grew up in Oakland, then L.A. Compton.
HEATHER
Do you want to say hello to Compton.
Jaro makes a fist. He even smiles, a little.
JARO
What up, Compton? Yo, Ricky, Sylvi. You
listen to mommy, right.
HEATHER
And Lionel. You're from East L.A.?
Lionel nods.
HEATHER (CONT'D)
How did you and Jaro meet?
LIONEL
Gang truce.
HEATHER
Tell us about that.
LIONEL
Guys got together, yo. Decided to stop
the violence. Get with the program, yo.
HEATHER
You were in a gang?
JARO
Yea. Then my big brother got killed. I
didn't want that to happen to me.
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - 11:20PM
Coleman watches the SWAT teams get in position. Forty minutes
and counting. He watches Heather with Jaro and Lionel.
COLEMAN
It's a goddamn group therapy session.
LIONEL
(on the air)
But it's like nobody cares. We could be
killing each other and nobody cares. Do
you think the mayor cares about us? Or
the governor? Or the president? They care
about getting elected.
JARO
Say what you want, Kelly and Horst, the
Green Army Commandos, they really care.
LIONEL
Jaro, my man.
Lionel and Jaro give each other a long, secret handshake.
EXT. STATION - 11:35PM
Coleman's troops have the station surrounded... ready to
attack... 25 minutes and counting. For the rest of the "Meet
the Commandos Show" we cut between the PREP FOR THE RAID/THE
ENGINEERING BOOTH/AND THE SHOW ITSELF.
INT. NEWS SET - 11:38
Heather interviews Helen.
HELEN
When you believe something's right, when
 you commit yourself totally to an ideal,
that's truly being alive.
HEATHER
But is it practical?
HELEN
That's not the point. You don't give up
just because it isn't popular.
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - 11:45PM
The SWAT teams fan out and take their places for the raid.
HELEN
(on the air)
We share a planetary vision of oneness
with the earth and all its suffering
people.
HEATHER
But now you're involved in kidnapping.
You're talking about blowing up this
building, committing murder.
HELEN
We do it because it's necessary. Because
we're revolutionaries.
HEATHER
I hate to tell you, but the revolution's
over.
HELEN
I know we sound crazy to you. That Horst
Klingerman may not win any popularity
contests, but let me ask you...
She turns and looks into the camera.
HELEN (CONT'D)
What are you willing to die for?
EXT. STATION - 11:50 PM
The SWAT teams takes their place. The heavy artillery moves
across the parking lot toward the building. TEN MINUTES TO
RAID.
INT. NEWS SET - 11:55
Heather speaks to camera.
HEATHER
We have good reason to believe that the
authorities plan to storm this station in
the next five minutes and end this stand
off.
As Heather speaks, THE COMMANDOS walk into picture and stand
with her. Jaro, Lionel, Helen, Warren. Then Kelly and Horst
take their places.
HEATHER (CONT'D)
These people are not our enemies. They're
just like you and me. Good people,
misguided, maybe, but trying to do what
they think is right in a difficult world.
Toby, Carl and Eddie enter the scene.
HEATHER (CONT'D)
What do you say? Let all those millions
of people out there know... tell the
politicians back in Washington.
Eddie puts a hand on Horst's shoulder. Toby does the same
with Kelly. They form a tableau behind Heather.
HEATHER (CONT'D)
We don't want the Green Army Commandos
killed in some attempt to rescue us. Stop
the bloodshed. Pick up your phone, e
mail, fax. Or call our Instapoll Hotline
Number 1(800)COM-ANDO. In the next five
minutes. Before it's too late.
Heather steps back and joins the group pose. Just their faces
in spotlight. On the screen the Instapoll tabulations appear.
For invasion: 58 percent. Against: 42 percent.
Then the Instapoll shifts 52 percent for invasion; 48
against. It shifts again. 38 for; 62 against.
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - 11:57 PM
Coleman delivers last minute instructions. Watches the TV.
HEATHER
We hope and pray to see you tomorrow.
The Instapoll shifts one more time 28 for; 72 against. The
spotlight fades out. The set goes to black.
INT. NEWS SET - 11:58 PM
The hostages and commandos stare at the big studio clock.
They watch the seconds tick away. Two minutes to midnight.
COLEMAN
(on the phone, furious)
Stand by? I've got 200 of our best
trained men 60 seconds from a
meticulously planned, can't-fail
operation that will make Entebbe look
like child's play... and you say stand
by... I'm standing by.
INT. NEWS SET - 11:59:20
The group stands frozen... they haven't moved since they
signed off the air. Horst reaches inside his vest, fondles
the detonator switch. He looks at Carl who tenses, like he's
ready to attack. Helen raises her Uzi and points it at
Heather's head. She smiles menacingly at Carl. No one else
even so much as breathes.
EXT. STATION - 11:59:30
The SWAT TEAM makes their final move to the building
entrances. Groups of men disappear underground into
ventilation systems, into the bowels of the building.
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - 11:59:45
Coleman watches the clock tick, 46,47,48,49,50,51...The phone
rings. Coleman answers. He nods his head. Puts down the
phone. He speaks into a walkie-talkie.
COLEMAN
Abort mission. Repeat. Mission cancelled.
Abort Operation Free TV.
INT. NEWS SET - 11:59:55
The Commandos and their hostages watch as the clock ticks
56,57,58,59,12:00, 12:00:01.
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - SAME TIME
Coleman is enraged.
COLEMAN
Fucking policy by Instapoll. I don't
fucking believe it.
He bangs his phone against the wall... It shatters.
INT. NEWS SET - 12:01
As the clock ticks, it sinks in that the raid isn't
happening. At first the hostages and their captors exchange
nervous smiles. Then hugs. Then high-fives. Now they jump and
shout and dance with relief. Even Carl and Helen hug for a
second... before they realize what they've done and recoil
from each other.
TOBY
(to Heather)
Not bad for a meterologist.
EXT. STATION PARKING LOT - SAME TIME
Coleman talks on a portable phone as he paces in the lot in
front of the building.
COLEMAN
One way or the other this will end.
Within forty eight hours The Green Army
Commandos are going to release their
 hostages unharmed and surrender to the
tender mercy of the duly constituted
authorities... Or, an unfortunate
accident involving the terrorists remote
controlled detonators is going to unleash
an explosion that will blow the KLAX
building to smithereens.
The hostages and commandos listen on speaker.
EDDIE
Who would believe ass-covering crap like
that? It'd be political disaster.
Coleman continues his walk around the parking lot.
COLEMAN
The present situation isn't exactly a
campaign telethon. From a PR standpoint,
surrender is still the best option. But
our Instapolls show that a full 55
percent of the public will believe this
preposterous story. No other scenario
produces anything close. The president's
approval rating will take a four point
hit, and we may have to fire the Attorney
General. But by election day only 23
percent will even remember this little
incident and only 7 percent will take it
into a account in choosing a candidate.
CARL
No one will believe that we were blown up
by some bullshit electronic malfunction
with all that fire-power out there?
COLEMAN
That's what I told them. So if you look
outside, you'll see what I came up with.
They go to the window. The SWAT Teams, the National Guard
troops, the military vehicles -- THEY'RE ALL GONE.
KELLY
What is this?
CARL
We call it... deniability.
COLEMAN
And don't think you're gonna broadcast
our plan, cause there's a nice old Laser
Death Ray aimed at your satellite...
could pierce the 'O' in the Hollywood
sign from two miles up.
HORST
If you cut off our access to the
airwaves, I will detonate the charges.
 COLEMAN
Your option, ol' buddy. Save me a whole
lot of trouble.
HORST
We'll tell the public!
COLEMAN
As of now... You're preempted. Though,
certain policy wonks think we should let
you make your plutonium threat on the
air. Then, when the shit hits the fan,
the environmental movement will be so
wildly discredited the people of
California would vote to nuke the whales.
They figure Seawater would win
overwhelmingly in the next election.
Horst sinks down into a chair. Kelly slumps against the wall.
Eddie chain smokes another Winston. They're defeated.
COLEMAN (CONT'D)
You're up against the full weight of the
United States government. And a cold,
calculated, maybe even offensive decision
has been reached. You surrender... or
everybody in there dies.
Through the window they see Coleman put down his phone. He
stares at the building, hands on hips. Then he walks back
into his trailer headquarters.
TOBY
That's cold.
KELLY
It's over, Horst.
HORST
On the contrary, we have a clear choice.
KELLY
You... You can't be serious.
HORST
How did you expect this to end? With the
total capitulation of the U.S. government
and a victory parade for the Green Army
Commandos. It's jail or death. I know
where I stand.
KELLY
We blow up this building, they'll use it
to discredit everything we've
accomplished. Everything we've gained by
communicating with a national television
audience...
HORST
That's all this has ever been to you,
 isn't Kelly? A chance to see yourself on
TV. The Green Army Commando Show,
starring Kelly--
EDDIE
Holy shit! That's it! Horst, you're a
genius.
HORST
I am?
EDDIE
Coleman said surrender is the best
option. You surrender. But you do it on
the air. We negotiate one more episode,
the surrender show. We make the deal on
the air.
Jaro, Lionel, Scott and Hanna agree. Warren and Helen don't.
KELLY
Let him try.
HELEN
It's a sell out.
WARREN
Why would they go for it? You really
think they care if we die?
EDDIE
Let me find out.
DAY 5
INT. EDDIE'S OFFICE - 1:10AM
Eddie, Kelly and Horst look out into the eerie silence of the
night and the now empty parking lot.
ARLENE
There are conditions.
EDDIE
What conditions?
ARLENE
First. No Horst. Second. No illegal acts
may be advocated. Third, they won't
guarantee the surrender deal.
HORST
Then there's nothing to discuss.
ARLENE
Before you go blowing up our building,
there's one other development. A bunch of
agents have been sniffing around...
KELLY
 Agents?
ARLENE
Yea. IAA, Global Talent, Leonard Isaacs
Associates....
KELLY
Leonard Isaacs?
HORST
You've heard of this guy?
ARLENE
He wants to talk to you.
HORST
About what?
KELLY
Leonard Isaacs. Wow... He's big. We
should definitely go with him.
Kelly and Eddy look at Horst. He shrugs.
HORST
I will listen to what he has to say...
INT. CAFETERIA - 1:30 AM
A woman's voice intones.
SECRETARY
Hold for Leonard Isaacs, please.
Musak plays on the speaker phone while the commandos and
hostages wait.
LEONARD ISAACS
If I may, let me bring you up to date on
the extent to which I've put myself in
the picture.
It's a voice of authority. Smooth, but comforting. The
faintest hint of a New York accent. This guy is good.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
I've been following your coverage
closely. The bottom line is that Kelly
Jordan and Toby Inman could be developed
into major talk-show hosts.
They both look pleased.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
Heather Blake could pursue a similar
track, but I'm convinced that her
potential would be better maximized by a
carefully planned move into major motion
 pictures. I'm therefore prepared to offer
representation to these three
personalities, provided we are in basic
accord on career goals and strategies.
Heather, Toby and Kelly try to contain themselves. Horst goes
ballistic.
HORST
I don't believe I'm hearing this! This is
a life and death situation and you're
talking about making movies.
LEONARD ISAACS
Horst! Horst Klingerman? Or should I call
you Herb?
HORST
If this is going to be the discussion, we
might as well end it now.
Isaacs is unruffled.
LEONARD ISAACS
Not to worry. While I can't offer
representation to the rest of you an a
career basis, I am proposing an overall
package that will include all the Green
Army Commandos and the hostages. And from
which you will all profit handsomely.
HORST
What are you talking about?
LEONARD ISAACS
Two choice properties. A proposed Green
Army Commandos Show... and a major motion
picture.
LIONEL AND JARO
A movie!
They high five each other.
LEONARD ISAACS
Did you imagine that a true-life drama
with this kind of exposure and at least
six excellent roles could fail to
generate a feature film?
EDDIE
That's terrific, Leonard. But what about
the fact that we have to get out of here
in one piece?
LEONARD ISAACS
May I be frank with you?
CARL
I'm sure we'd all find that refreshing.
 LEONARD ISAACS
I contribute something like a million a
year to the best politicians money can
buy. Also, I control a lot of major
talent that is very useful for fund
raising. So when word got out that I was
considering placing myself in the picture
and that there was the possibility of
minimizing the damage both PR and human
wise, let's just say I got a couple of
interesting calls. See, the basic
proposal Eddie made was pretty good, but
it lacks a major component.
EDDIE
It does? What's that?
LEONARD ISAACS
Leverage. You have no leverage. And the
government's got no incentive. If you had
leverage, then you could make a deal.
HORST
So where do we get this leverage?
LEONARD ISAACS
That's where I come in. There's some
people on Capitol Hill who don't like
this nuclear power stuff any more than
you do. They offered me some documents
about how the Seawater Plant is being
used as a front to develop fusion nuclear
weapons--without consulting Congress and
in violation of a host of international
treaties. A piece of information that I'm
sure the government would much prefer to
keep secret. That's what you call
leverage.
There's an awed silence in the room as all eyes watch the
telephone. Leonard Isaacs invisible presence.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
We write a deal that anyone who opens
their mouth about this loses their piece
of the pie. And in the case of the Green
Army Commandos, keeping your mouths
shut... keeps you out of prison.
Horst can't believe it.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
Now, as to The Green Army Commandos Show,
I'm thinking a weekly syndicated hour...
7 to 8 p.m. lead-in to prime-time. Have
you given any thought to content?
 KELLY
I guess we'd do more or less what we've
been doing.
LEONARD ISAACS
What? Wave machine guns at hostages and
threaten to blow up buildings?
KELLY
I mean educate people, incite them to
action.
LEONARD ISAACS
Okay. How?
No one has an answer, but they all know Isaacs does.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
Each show will be devoted to actions
people can take to help save life on
Earth. Legal stuff. But what's the guts
of the show?
KELLY
What Eddie said... a phone-in show?
LEONARD ISAACS
That's called radio.
They're stumped.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
Think about it. It's obvious...
More silence.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
Celebrity interviews!
HORST
I can't believe I'm hearing this.
LEONARD ISAACS
I've already negotiated the satellite
time. And you won't believe who I've
lined up for the first interview.
They wait.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
Allan Lamont!
HORST
You can't be serious.
LEONARD ISAACS
 I sure can.
They all start talking over each other.
LIONEL
He's that actor who shot the director...
JARO
Cause he was screwin' his girlfriend...
LEONARD ISAACS
Listen. Alan was unfairly convicted. He
thought it was a stunt weapon. He just
wanted to scare the guy...
KELLY
Leonard. I don't think showbiz chit-chat
with a convicted has-been is the way to
launch The Green Army Commandos Show.
LEONARD ISAACS
Five years ago Alan was the top box
office draw in America. Now he's up for
parole. His first appearance will be on
your show... guaranteed huge numbers.
EDDIE
The guy's in jail for murder!
LEONARD ISAACS
So, you never made a mistake?... We do
the interview live from prison. I've
already negotiated the satellite time.
EDDIE
There's a hidden agenda here, right? To
rehabilitate your client...
LEONARD ISAACS
Eddie.... I don't have a hidden agenda, I
have a synergistic agenda. That's why I'm
the best agent in town. And you'll be
surprised by his integrity. Allan will
only talk about his ideas for saving the
rainforest...
HORST
I refuse to go along with this.
LEONARD ISAACS
Why not? As I've said to more than one
suicidal client; 'If this doesn't work
out, you can always kill yourself later.'
Carl watches Horst fondle his detonator switch again.
CARL
Turn off the speakerphone, Eddie. Tell
our agent we'll get back to him.
Eddie looks at Horst.
CARL (CONT'D)
We need to talk in private.
Horst nods to Eddie.
EDDIE
We're gonna have to get back to you
Leonard.
(and now Eddie smiles)
We gotta take a meeting.
Eddie hangs up.
CARL
Look. Isaacs starfuck seems as stupid to
me as it does to you. What counts is that
it gets us one last half hour of airtime.
HORST
To do what?
CARL
To save our asses. We go on the air and
announce a deal. Tell them The Green Army
Commandos will end this peacefully, but
only if the government makes a public
commitment, live on television.
KELLY
It's a good idea.
CARL
They can't blow up the station and pin it
on you. Not after they promise in front
of 50 million viewers.
WARREN
Fookin' genius, guy.
HELEN
I say better to blow ourselves up now.
Horst's eyes narrow. The wheels turn in his head.
HORST
All right. But we say nothing about this,
not even to our agent.
Carl and Eddie make eye contact and realize that this idea to
save them has opened up a whole new can of worms.
HORST (CONT'D)
It will be our surprise.
INT. NEWS SET - 7:30PM
A snappy GREEN ARMY COMMANDOS LOGO APPEARS. Jaro and Lionel
start to rap out a theme song.
 JARO AND LIONEL
Two-four-six-eight, organize and
demonstrate... two-four-six-eight, save
the earth, it's not too late...
The beat picks up. Close on Kelly who wears a New Beret and
Green Army Commando T-shirt. She stands in front of a photo
of the earth from space, stolen from Heather's AccuWeather
graphics.
KELLY
The Green Army Commando show is your
show. It invites all of to you join the
battle to save our Biosphere. Assuming we
survive, and that the show gets picked
up, we'll come to you each week with
actions you can take to get involved, and
interviews with prominent and concerned
citizens of Planet Earth... Toby...
TOBY
And we'll tell you how you can become a
Green Army Commando and get one of these
terrific T-shirts and berets--all made
from natural hemp fibers...
INT. BOOTH - SAME TIME
Horst appropriates the director's chair and frantically
writes on cue cards...
WE CUT BETWEEN COLEMAN; LEONARD ISAACS IN HIS OPULENT OFFICE;
AND ALL OF THE HOSTAGE FAMILIES WATCHING AT TOBY'S HOUSE.
INT. NEWS SET - 7:40PM
Toby on-screen with a graphic over his shoulder of a Green
Army Commandos beret: the graphic reads, "Guest Commando."
TOBY
And now for tonight's Guest Commando.
Well-known movie actor, Alan Lamont.
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - SAME TIME
Coleman watches, shaking his head at the absurdity.
INT. TOBY'S LIVING ROOM - SAME TIME
The hostage families watch the show. Heather's grandma is a
big Allan Lamont fan.
GRANDMA
He's lost weight. He looks so handsome.
INT. NEWS SET - 7:43PM
Kelly interviews ALLAN LAMONT, 30's, handsome. A leading man
with a gravelly, voice.
 ALLAN LAMONT
This apple is from the Pacific Northwest,
an important part of the economy of
Washington and Oregon...
KELLY
You know a lot about apples.
ALLAN LAMONT
My parents have an apple farm outside of
Olympia, Washington. That's where I grew
up. It's a big business. But the lumber
business is much bigger, and much more
destructive. And it's destroying the only
rain forest in the continental United
States. That's what I want to talk about.
KELLY
You want to talk about saving trees...
ALLAN LAMONT
Who are we to push the Brazilians around
if we don't get our own act together?
INT. ENGINEERING BOOTH - SAME TIME
Eddie, Horst and Warren watch on the monitor. Eddie's amazed.
EDDIE
Fucking Leonard Isaacs. Unbelievable.
INT. NEWS SET - 7:51 PM
A split screen of Kelly and Allan Lamont.
ALLAN LAMONT
I'm the son of growers, and I think
Pacific Northwest Apples are the best.
But if we're gonna boycott Brazilian
coffee to save their rain forest, we
should damn well be boycotting Washington
apples to save ours.
Horst hands a set of cue cards to Toby and whispers in Toby's
ear.
KELLY
How do you like them apples? Thank you
Allan, that was really moving. And now
for tonight's musical guests. Toby...
Cut to Toby looking extremely nervous as just off camera,
Horst points his Uzi at Toby's head and holds up cue cards.
HORST
Read!
TOBY
Before, uh, we get to the music, uh..
Toby squints at the cue cards, like he can't believe what
he's reading. Horst cocks his machine gun.
TOBY (CONT'D)
(haltingly)
Um, throughout the uh, KLAX hostage
crisis, there have been ongoing
negotiations between federal authorities
and Horst Klingerman, Chairperson of the
Green Army Commandos aimed at a peaceful
resolution...um...
Toby stops.
HORST
Read it!
TOBY
As a gesture of goodwill, the Green Army
commandos have so far not revealed the
true nature of the explosives in this
building. But as the Green Army commandos
and the government have reached a
tentative agreement on a settlement, I am
uh...authorized to tell you that...Jesus
Horst, this isn't...
HORST
Read it!
We see the reaction in Toby's living room. Cut to Coleman
back on the phone.
COLEMAN
Pull the plug, shut them down. Now!
TOBY
The explosives...
As Toby pauses we hear Horst cock the machine gun...
TOBY (CONT'D)
(he has no choice)
...contain... one kilo of weapons grade
plutonium.
COLEMAN
Oh shit! I knew it. Damn.
He slams down the phone... furious at the bureaucratic
paralysis.
TOBY
(visibly shaken )
There is no cause for panic. We will not
detonate these charges unless your
government reneges on our agreement. The
Green Army Commandos invite a
representative of the United States to
 come to KLAX under guarantee of safe
passage to finalize this accord before
the American people...
Toby's eyes go wide with shock and fear.
TOBY (CONT'D)
We demand to speak directly and in person
with...with, live, on the air...THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES???!!! Oh,
come on Horst. This is crazy!
CUT TO COLEMAN WHO LOOKS LIKE HE'S ABOUT TO BURST A BLOOD
VESSEL IN HIS BRAIN:
TO TOBY'S LIVING ROOM, WHERE EVERYONE SITS IN STUNNED
SILENCE:
THE THE CONTROL ROOM WHERE EDDIE IS ALTERNATELY HORRIFIED AND
TITILLATED BY THESE DEVELOPMENTS:
TO LEONARD ISAACS OFFICE WHERE WE SEE THE BACK OF HIS LEATHER
CHAIR. WATCHING ON AN ENORMOUS WALL CONSOLE... ISAACS REACHES
FOR THE PHONE.
INT. THE SET - SAME TIME
TOBY
(reads on)
We challenge you, Mr. President to make
good on your promises. Failure to do so
will result in the destruction of this
building and everyone in it, and the
release of a radioactive cloud that will
kill thousands and contaminate this city.
INT. COLEMAN'S HQ - 8:01PM
Coleman paces in the trailer, shrieking into the phone.
COLEMAN
You think you can blackmail the President
of the United States?
HORST
I prefer to think of it as a matter of
trust.
Coleman takes a deep breath.
COLEMAN
C'mon. You're not dumb enough to believe
a demand like that can possibly be met?
HORST
It wasn't my idea, Coleman. It was your
old buddy Carl.
COLEMAN
Carl. Are you there, you son of a bitch?
 CARL
I thought public negotiations would...
COLEMAN
That we'd just hand over the
president...????
HORST
That part was my idea.
Eddie picks up the other line. He points to the phone.
EDDIE
It's Isaacs.
HORST
I have to go Coleman. My agent's calling.
Leonard Isaacs is on the speakerphone from his plush office
overlooking Century City.
LEONARD ISAACS
The numbers were very good. And our focus
group responded quite well. I think we've
got a winner... Sorry I couldn't send the
usual bouquet of roses.
Heather and Carl look at each other, partly amused by Kelly,
who receives the information like an actress reading good
reviews in the morning paper.
TOBY
What about this president thing?
Everyone looks at Horst.
LEONARD ISAACS
I have to tell you. I'm not happy about
that. That's not something you keep from
your agent.
HORST
It wasn't any of your business.
LEONARD ISAACS
If it's your business, then it's ten
percent my business. If you'd told me I
could have put a writer on it.
EDDIE
You're not unhappy with the idea?
LEONARD ISAACS
Only with the execution... which was
amateur hour.
KELLY
You don't think Horst made a mistake
demanding the president?
 LEONARD ISAACS
It was a terrific piece of business.
Perfect dramatic climax for the movie.
HORST
Really?
LEONARD ISAACS
Brilliant.
EDDIE
Are we talking about the real thing or
your movie?
LEONARD ISAACS
There's a difference?... However, while I
don't like admitting it, sometimes even
Leonard Isaacs has his limits. I can't
get you the president.
He waits for a reaction, but none is forthcoming.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
But I do believe I have come come up with
some solid alternate casting.
HORST
(suspicious)
Alternate casting?
LEONARD ISAACS
Maybe I can't get the president, but I
told them we won't accept anything less
than Cabinet rank for a role like this.
Attorney General, Supreme Court Justice,
FBI director... I can see I'm gonna have
to play some hardball. Can you hold a
minute?
Musak of The Beatles "Hard Days Night" plays on hold.
WARREN
(to Horst)
You're really gonna fookin' surrender?
HORST
If Isaacs delivers. And our demands are
met.
KELLY
Why don't I believe you?
HORST
Because you're so obsessed with you're
own celebrity all you can think about is
getting a TV show.
KELLY
 You're just jealous!
HORST
Do you really think I want to be the star
of a television talk show?
The music stops. Isaacs is back on the line.
LEONARD ISAACS
That was the White House. It's a done
deal. The whole package.
HORST
Get to the point.
LEONARD ISAACS
I didn't want to mention it in case I
couldn't pull it off. But I really think
you're gonna love this.
HORST
I'll be the judge of that.
LEONARD ISAACS
The president was unavailable, but I got
you next best thing... The Vice President
of the United States.
EVERYONE
THE VICE PRESIDENT???!!!
Isaacs waits for the awed murmurs to subside. All eyes turn
to Horst.
LEONARD ISAACS
The Vice President. And he happens to be
in California on a little fund-raising
expedition. So if there are no
objections, we go on the air at eleven.
HORST
I suppose this is acceptable.
EDDIE
(stunned)
Yea. I suppose it is.
EXT. SUNSET BOULEVARD - 9:OO PM
Sunset Blvd. is shut down on both sides of the station.
Police barricades are reinforced by the National Guard. The
Vice President's SECRET SERVICE ADVANCE team arrives.
INT. NEWS SET - 10:52 PM
On one monitor Heather prepares for her 'stand-up' in front
of the station. On the other, Toby reads over his script.
Toby looks around the studio at Lionel and Jaro, his
'cameramen,' machine guns still slung over their shoulders.
In the booth, Eddie, Horst, Kelly and Warren point and debate
logistics. Carl has been relegated to a chair at the side of
the set where Helen watches over him at gunpoint.
EXT. STATION PARKING LOT - 10:57 PM
Coleman talks into a walkie-talkie in one hand and a cell
phone in the other. The SOUND OF A HELICOPTER APPROACHING.
INT. NEWS SET - 10:59 PM
The KLAX-TV News music begins... the logo plays. It's
11:00... Warren cues Toby. We're on the air.
EXT. STATION PARKING LOT 11:00PM
Coleman watches on a portable TV carried by an aide, as he
moves around checking logistics. He looks to the sky as the
Vice President's helicopter begins its descent.
INT. NEWS SET - 11:01
TOBY
As the Vice President's helicopter
touches down ...Heather Blake is outside
the station. Heather.
EXT. STATION - 11:02
The helicopter lands, and Jaro zooms in as the door opens. He
catches the VP pouring and then swilling what looks like a
shot of Jack Daniels.
The VICE PRESIDENT is a distinguished-looking man in his late
60's, a Dick-Cheney sort of Vice President. ARMED TROOPS
flank the stairs as the VP descends.
HEATHER
(on the air)
As the White House and the Green Army
Commandos agreed, the Vice President is
approaching the building without an
escort... completely alone.
The Vice President walks with a proud, patrician gait.
HEATHER (CONT'D)
Mr. Vice President. Any thoughts before
you go inside?
He smiles. Heather can smell the booze on his breath.
VICE PRESIDENT
Looking forward to a peaceful resolution
of this situation. Thank you.
HEATHER
Back to you, Toby.
Jaro turns, as Horst and Kelly greet the Vice President at
the door. The Vice President reaches out to shake hands, and
Kelly takes it. Horst doesn't. They're out of earshot of the
microphone.
VICE PRESIDENT
(under his breath)
Let's get this fucking thing done.
Horst's smile is not re-assuring.
TOBY
(voice over the VP's entrance)
KLAX-TV and StarNet have arranged for
ongoing Instapoll results to appear on
the screen, so that all the participants
will get the benefit of a scientific
sampling of your opinions.
The VP, Horst and Kelly arrive at the news desk. They sit...
the Vice President between Horst and Toby. Kelly on the end.
TOBY (CONT'D)
The Vice President will present the
government's proposal to the Green Army
Commandos.
VICE PRESIDENT
Thank you, Toby.
Toby blanches at the powerful smell of booze on his breath.
VICE PRESIDENT
(CONT'D)
The position of the United States
Government is perfectly clear. The Green
Army Commandos must release their
hostages, vacate these premises and
surrender to Federal authorities.
The Instapoll results crawl across the screen. For:82
percent; Against 18 percent.
HORST
Surrender? This is your idea of serious
negotiations?!
VICE PRESIDENT
We are willing to discuss terms. We are
not talking about unconditional
surrender...
HORST
I don't accept the term surrender!
The Vice President starts to perspire.
VICE PRESIDENT
I only mean to say...
KELLY
 (to Horst)
Let's hear the terms. Okay?
The Instapoll reverses. For 20 percent; Against 80 percent.
TOBY
Let the man speak.
VICE PRESIDENT
Thank you, Toby.
As if thanking Toby makes it familiar, like "Meet the Press."
VICE PRESIDENT
(CONT'D)
I am authorized to offer the following.
The camera moves in close on the VP.
VICE PRESIDENT
(CONT'D)
Taking into account that no one has been
harmed, and the desires of the American
people as expressed in the Instapolls; we
are prepared to offer 10 years suspended
sentences. Reduced to five years
probation and two thousand hours of
community service cleaning up the
environment.
Instapolls. For; 52 percent. Against;48 percent.
KELLY
I think we can handle that.
HORST
I accept your terms for a negotiated
settlement, provided you are willing to
accept ours.
VICE PRESIDENT
Your terms?
KELLY
What the...?
HORST
We have only three. One. The United
States will declare a unilateral ban on
the use of all ozone-destroying
chemicals. Two. The United States must
order the immediate end to all logging
and burning in the Amazon rainforest and
dispatch a naval task force to enforce
that ban. We add to our demands the
rainforest in Borneo, where clear-cutting
is happening at the fastest rate on the
planet.
KELLY AND THE
 VICE PRESIDENT
Borneo???!!!!
TOBY
Where the fuck is Borneo?
HORST
And three. The United States must ban the
sale and ownership of all automobiles
within its territory.
Instapoll. For: 4 percent. Against; 96 percent.
VICE PRESIDENT
Are you out of your mind, sir?
KELLY
This is bullshit, Horst.
TOBY
You can't do this.
HORST
Of course I can.
Toby watches as Carl leaps to his feet, but stops when he
hears the CLICK of Helen releasing the safety from her
rifle... To Toby's right the Vice President sits stunned.
Kelly jumps up, like she's ready to fight Horst.
The Instapoll: For 3 percent. Against; 97 percent.
HORST AIMS HIS GUN AT THE VICE PRESIDENT. Kelly points her
Uzi at Horst. Helen holds on Carl. Jaro points his at Kelly.
Everybody freezes...
Now, Horst, holding his gun with one hand, reaches into his
vest and REVEALS THE EXPLOSIVES.
EXT. PARKING LOT - SAME TIME
Coleman barks orders into the walkie-talkie.
COLEMAN
Team One. Ready to move in on my command.
Sonofabitch. I fuckin' told them.
INT. NEWS SET - SAME TIME
And now, TOBY STANDS, as if some force comes over him, and he
puts himself between Horst's weapon and the Vice President...
practically impaling himself on Horst's gun barrel.
TOBY
Go ahead. Shoot me!
The Vice President looks like he's shitting his pants.
HORST
(in shock at her nerve)
 Sit down.
TOBY
I will not. You will have to kill me in
cold blood in front of a hundred million
people.
Emboldened, Toby pushes the barrel of Horst's gun toward the
floor. Then, he moves to the back of the Vice President's
chair and puts his hands on the VP's shoulders.
TOBY (CONT'D)
You gave your word. You promised this man
safe passage.
Instapoll: For; 95 percent. Against; 5 percent.
TOBY (CONT'D)
Stand up, Mr. Vice President. We're
leaving.
Horst stares at Toby, unable to act. The Vice President
stands up, shaking. Toby leads him to the exit. Carl watches
as Helen aims her weapon at the Vice President's head.
HELEN
One more step, and I'll kill you.
As Helen cocks her gun, Carl leaps from the chair and dives
at her legs. Helen goes down. Carl grabs her rifle.
HELEN (CONT'D)
Horst! Do something!
Horst is frozen. He can't bring himself to shoot Toby or the
Vice President. pull it.... pull it. As TOBY LEADS THE VICE
PRESIDENT FROM THE BUILDING, Horst continues to fondle the
detonator switch on his vest...
BEDLAM ON THE SET. The Green Army Commandos shout at each
other over footage of the Vice President being led to freedom
by unlikely hero, Toby Inman.
KELLY
What an asshole thing to do...
HELEN
We had the Vice President of the United
States. And you lost him because you
couldn't face down some airhead
anchorman...
KELLY
And all of our popular support... down
the tubes!
HORST
Popular support? You mean your TV show!
EXT. PARKING LOT - SAME TIME
Coleman races toward the VP and Toby. A helicopter gunship
hovers overhead. Coleman speaks into his cell phone.
COLEMAN
Thought you'd want to know that your
boy's okay.
INT. CONTROL BOOTH - SAME TIME
Eddie takes the call from Coleman.
EDDIE
Thanks, Alex.
COLEMAN
Ballsiest thing I ever saw.
EDDIE
Now what?
COLEMAN
The spin doctors have gone back to the
drawing board. The Vice President's safe,
and we've got our hero. They're not about
to screw up the happy ending... But we
are taking you off the air. I'll give you
time to announce it.
EDDIE
What about Klingerman?
COLEMAN
If he hasn't pulled the trigger yet... Or
are you suggesting I move in my troops?
EDDIE
I'll tell everyone we're off the air.
INT. NEWS SET - 11:38 PM
On the air: Toby sips coffee with the Vice President... Now
he walks back across the parking lot, as the camera follows.
TOBY
With the Vice President safe and sound,
we head back inside our hostage
situation. For Heather Blake, Carl
Mendoza and the rest of the KLAX news
team, I'm Toby Inman. We'll be back
tomorrow night at six... At least we sure
hope so...
ON THE MONITOR: The screen goes to black. Then to snow.
They're off the air.
DAY 6
INT. NEWS SET - 8:05 AM
The voice echoes from the speaker phone.
SECRETARY
Please hold for Leonard Isaacs.
INT. LIMOUSINE - SAME TIME
LEONARD ISAACS
Sorry to keep you waiting. I've been on
the horn to Washington. I got them to cut
a deal.
HORST
For what?
LEONARD ISAACS
Coverage.
HORST
Of what?
LEONARD ISAACS
The hostage release.
HORST
There won't be any hostage release.
Silence on the other end... as Isaacs limo pulls into the
KLAX parking lot. He gets out, walking and talking on his
cell phone.
LEONARD ISAACS
(still talking into his phone)
Of course there will. I've got it all
arranged.
INT. NEWS STUDIO - SAME TIME
Now THE STUDIO DOOR OPENS AND LEONARD ISAACS ENTERS. They're
all shocked to see him. Six feet. Very fit. Armani suit.
Matching tie and handkerchief.
Isaacs puts his phone in his coat pocket, lays his briefcase
on the desk and opens it for maximum effect.
LEONARD ISAACS
It's good to meet all of you.
He moves to Toby and pats him on the shoulder.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
What a performance. All this movie
needed was a hero. Son, I'm gonna make
you a star.
Toby beams with pride. Heather and Kelly try to look happy
for him.
LEONARD ISAACS
 (CONT'D)
Let's get to it. In the interest of time,
I won't shake hands with all of you.
HORST
We release no hostages until our demands
are met. A ban on automobiles, a naval
task force...
Isaacs cuts him off, leans on the desk and immediately takes
center stage.
LEONARD ISAACS
C'mon. This is your agent you're talking
to. Those demands are bullshit.
HORST
We've made a public commitment. Our
credibility is at stake.
LEONARD ISAACS
It is my considered opinion that the
other side is out of patience. You
release your hostages and surrender by
tonight, or they storm the station and no
one sees it.
KELLY
I believe him.
HORST
It's not relevant.
LEONARD ISAACS
Then what is?
He gets very sincere. Fatherly.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
Talk to me. Talk to your agent. Tell me
what I can do for you.
They all start to talk at once. Some want to take the deal.
Some don't.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
PEOPLE! PEOPLE! One at a time!
He gets silence.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
Kelly. What do you want?
KELLY
The deal you worked out. Release the
hostages, stay out of jail. Do 'The Green
Army Commando Show.'
 LEONARD ISAACS
Who agrees with Kelly?
Jaro, Lionel and Warren raise their hands.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
Now, Horst, what is it you want me to
negotiate for you?
HORST
Are you serious?
LEONARD ISAACS
You're the client. You tell me what you
want. My job is to get it for you.
Eddie looks on with a mix of admiration and revulsion.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
You can't tell me you honestly believe
the United States is going to ban cars
and invade Borneo.
KELLY
It's a good question.
Horst looks at Helen. Then at Kelly.
KELLY (CONT'D)
You don't know what you want.
WARREN
She's fookin' right, Horst.
Isaacs steps in.
LEONARD ISAACS
What we have here is an image problem.
HORST
Enough of this Hollywood dribble.
LEONARD ISAACS
Now you listen to me!
Isaacs is pissed. He gets right in Horst's face.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
And don't interrupt. You're in no
position to pontificate about Hollywood.
You didn't take four people and a
building hostage. You took television
hostage. It's been a media war, an
Instapoll war, an image war from the git
go. You want me to tell you what you
really want?
Horst looks like a little boy being scolded.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
You want this movie to end without you
looking like a vicious monster or a world
class schmuck. Right now, you look like
both. You're trapped in your own script,
and it looks like there's no way out.
HORST
You, I, uh...
Horst can't form a coherent sentence.
LEONARD ISAACS
You want what we all want. To be admired,
emulated. Maybe even loved. You want to
be a hero.
Isaacs removes some papers from his briefcase.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
Here's the deal. First. No hostage
release, no TV coverage. I agreed. I'd
have a real conflict of interest
negotiating anything that lets one of my
clients kill the others.
Horst wants to jump in, but Isaacs raises his hand to stop
him.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
And you let any of the Green Army
Commandos who want to walk out of the
building...
HORST
(snaps out of Isaac's spell)
You can't be serious! This is surrender!
LEONARD ISAACS
Let me finish. That's what you gotta
give. Now, what you get. A half hour of
prime time. We open with the hostage
release. Built in audience of a hundred
million people.
HORST
I don't understand.
LEONARD ISAACS
You don't understand!... You trade four
live hostages for twenty uninterrupted
minutes of national prime time. Not to
mention foreign deals we're closing with
BBC World Service, France, Japan...
 HORST
To do what?
LEONARD ISAACS
Anything you want. I got you total
creative control. You want to reach
people? You want impact? The whole world
will be watching.
Horst starts to get it.
HORST
I can repeat all our demands?
LEONARD ISAACS
Whatever you want.
HORST
I can call on the American people to
force their government to act?
LEONARD ISAACS
You can do or say anything you want.
The question is 'What'? Any ideas?
Horst is silent.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
That's where my writers come in.
He takes a stack of papers out of his briefcase.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
Three alternate endings.
Eddie gets himself a copy.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
Version one. You make your speech... and
you surrender--
HORST
Out of the question.
LEONARD ISAACS
Version two... is a lot more dramatic.
You make your speech, they move in... you
stand your ground heroically. And the
whole thing ends in a dramatic
firefight...
EDDIE
Jesus Christ!
TOBY
Are you out of your fucking mind?
 LEONARD ISAACS
You're right. It makes the wrong thematic
point.
HORST
Thematic point?
LEONARD ISAACS
You're gonna call for sacrifice. And you
want to persuade that huge TV audience
that sacrifices must be made or life on
Earth will come to an end. Have I got it?
HORST
Yes! You do understand. That's it!
Exactly!
LEONARD ISAACS
On screen, a shoot-out would look great,
but if you kill anyone then you end up
the heavy. That's wrong.
HORST
I see your point.
LEONARD ISAACS
Now, I can't in all conscience tell you
to do this. I mean, I'm your agent, and
I've put some really good writers on
this. I believe it would work, but this
is your decision and your's alone...
HORST
Spit it out, Isaacs.
LEONARD ISAACS
It takes place at the main entrance. The
hostages emerge first. Followed by the
Green Army Commandos. Kelly stands at
your side while you make the big speech.
Then the two of you say good-bye. The
camera follows Kelly offstage. The
helicopter gunship lifts off, pins you in
its spotlight...
Isaacs pauses. Everyone is riveted.
HORST
Well?
LEONARD ISAACS
Then you strike the heroic pose that
becomes the signature image for the movie
poster, the show and everything the Green
Army Commandos stand for... And...
EVERYONE
And...
 LEONARD ISAACS
And... You blow yourself up.
It's like the group has been collectively hit on the head
with a hammer. They freeze in stunned silence.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
I'm your agent. Not your guru. Not your
shrink. It's your decision. My job is to
explain your options and make the best
deal possible. This is the best you can
get. You decide.
And with that, Leonard Isaacs takes back the script from
Eddie, closes up his briefcase and heads toward the exit. He
stops and turns.
LEONARD ISAACS
(CONT'D)
Eddie. I got StarNet to cough up for that
satellite truck. You'll have it tonight.
Isaacs exits the building.
EDDIE
If he promised Jesus Christ and the
Twelve Apostles doing a fucking Rolling
Stones medley...I'd believe it.
EXT. STATION PARKING LOT - 5:58 PM
Outside: rows of troops, weapons at the ready. The area is
evacuated, braced for an explosion. Coleman stands by...
waiting to see what Horst will do.
INT. NEWSROOM - 5:59 PM
Hostages and Commandos prepare to move out. Toby holds a
microphone and goes over his script with Eddie. Across the
room, Horst stands alone. Kelly keeps an eye on him as she
applies lipstick. Horst hasn't made his decision, or at least
he hasn't shared it. Eddie approaches him.
EDDIE
I don't agree with what you did. But at
least you're willing to put your ass on
the line for something you believe in.
You're not like these political assholes
who are afraid to take a piss until they
see the Instapolls. I wouldn't want to be
you, but I take my hat off to you,
Klingerman. I really do.
Eddie reaches out a hand to Horst. They shake hands.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
But you don't have to do anything crazy
just to look good on TV... or to make a
Hollywood ending for Leonard Isaacs'
 fucking movie...
Eddie turns and heads toward the exit...
Jaro picks up the handheld camera. Lionel's on sound. On the
newsroom monitor they see a shot from the new satellite truck
where the hostages' families--Claire with the kids, Eddie's
wife, Carl's mother, Heather's grandma--all wait behind the
police barricade alongside Leonard Isaacs.
Eddie looks back at the newsroom. At Horst, at Kelly, at the
rest of the Commandos in their uniforms and Uzis. He takes in
the insanity of the past week.
Now, he goes to Toby, Heather and Carl who prepare for the
show.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
I need to say thanks. To tell you the
truth, I haven't had this much fun in
years.
He starts to light a cigarette, but thinks better of it and
instead throws entire the pack in the trash.
EDDIE (CONT'D)
Good show, everybody.
Eddie leads his camera crew down the hall.
EXT. STATION PARKING LOT - 8:00 PM
The hostage families watch on a big-screen TV that Coleman
has arranged for them. The Green Army Commando music and logo
begins. Cut to Toby exiting the station.
TOBY
Good evening.
Toby walks down the steps. The camera pulls out for a shot
that includes Heather, Carl and Eddie exiting the station.
TOBY (CONT'D)
What an incredible feeling. This is the
first time my colleagues have breathed
fresh air, well... for Los Angeles, in
almost a week...
INT. NEWS ROOM - SAME TIME
Toby continues, as The Green Army Commandos watch on the
studio monitors.
TOBY
Just a few more steps to a peaceful end
to our long ordeal... and a joyful
reunion with our families.
EXT. STATION PARKING LOT - SAME TIME
Squeals and tears, hugs and kisses as the hostages are
reunited with their families. Coleman ducks out of the
picture--he doesn't want to be on TV. Carl follows him. They
look at each other.
COLEMAN
Well tie me to an aunt hill and rub my
ears with jam. Wasn't sure I was gonna
see you again, Carl.
CARL
Alex... You son of a bitch.
COLEMAN
Just doin' my job.
INT. NEWSROOM - 8:07 PM
Horst finally makes eye contact with Kelly.
KELLY
What are you going to do?
HORST
I don't want to spoil the surprise
finale. It might be bad for ratings.
He gestures to Helen, Warren, Jaro and Lionel.
HORST (CONT'D)
Let's go everyone. It's show-time. How
does it feel, Kelly? You came in to save
the world, but you're going out a star.
EXT. STATION PARKING LOT - 8:10 PM
The station doors open again. Horst exits first. For a moment
he stands alone, Uzi over his shoulder. The helicopter
gunship hovers overhead. Throws a brilliant spotlight on him.
TOBY
(voice over)
And now the Green Army Commandos... Let's
listen.
Helen, Warren and Lionel exit. They stand at Horst's side.
HORST
(his big moment)
We have the power to save the planet.
Now Kelly exits...Slowly down the stairs. She moves in next
to Horst and puts her hand on his shoulder.
KELLY
Horst...
HORST
We repeat our demands...
 KELLY
You don't have to do this...
HORST
Of course I do.
KELLY
We did it. We beat Seawater.
HORST
First... On the question of the much
discussed plutonium. I must tell you,
there is none. We would not have murdered
innocent people...
The troops nearest the station remove their radiation suits.
HORST (CONT'D)
But how can we get your attention?!! What
level of drama will move you? Cause you
to sit up? To take notice... We're so
used to it...to car chases and murder and
scandal. We're numb to it. To the hungry,
the needy. We're too busy. Even when
what's at stake is the very survival of
our planet. Our very existence. How can I
tell you how much is at stake? How can I
show you? Maybe a desperate act. Am I
crazy? Maybe. Maybe it's more crazy to do
nothing. My conscience is clear...
KELLY
Horst, please... Come with us. We need
you...
They turn to each other, look into each other's eyes.
HORST
We all do what we can. And what excellent
publicity for The Green Army Commando
Show.
Horst tenderly touches Kelly's cheek.
HORST (cont'd)
Good-bye, Kelly.
Warren, Jaro and Kelly each give Horst a hug. Kelly turns
back and kisses him on the cheek... then again on the lips.
KELLY
(through tears)
Good-bye.
The spotlight follows Kelly as she walks away, leaving Helen
and Lionel who have chosen to stay behind with Horst.
The only sound now is the whirr of the helicopter above, as
everything seems to slow to a crawl... Horst is framed by the
spotlight as he reaches inside his vest and TAKES HOLD OF THE
DETONATOR. Helen and Lionel do the same.
HORST
We choose to act. We choose death in the
name of life. In the name of love...
HORST PULLS THE SWITCH. The others follow. For a split
second, nothing. They stand in the light... the perfect movie
poster image.
THEN THE EXPLOSION. A BLAST OF LIGHT. A CLAP OF THUNDER...
Now, ONLY SMOKE in the spotlight where the three Commandos
were standing. THEY'VE BLOWN THEMSELVES UP.
TOBY
(voice over, quietly)
Dramatic end to KLAX hostage crisis.
Green Army Commandos in stunning suicide
blast. Complete story and pictures at 11.
DISSOLVE TO:
THEME MUSIC PLAYS... It's the new opening of The Green Army
Commandos show... Kelly and Toby are your hosts... Announcing
that Allan Lamont has signed on to play Horst Klingerman in
The Green Army Commandos Movie... which will be going into
production this fall.
END
******************