Alien vs. Predator

EXT. DEEP SPACE

We OPEN on TOTAL BLACKNESS, a sea of stars spread across the infinite depths

of space. As the TITLES ROLL, we notice that three of these specks seem to

be moving; one of them picking up acceleration and racing toward us. Our

perspective changes, and we catch a quick glimpse as it HURTLES past, and

into the gravitational pull of a large brownish planet. Kicking up SPARKS of

FRICTION as it hits atmosphere. It seems to be manmade. Or at least

artificial.

EXT. PLANET SURFACE - DAY

The planet is dead, barren. Death Valley on a grand scale. We watch the

object plummet through the wispy cloud-cover, emitting a few last burning

embers before falling to ground way-off in the distance. A BOOMING ECHO

resonates across the dusty plains, before settling back into an eerie

silence.

EXT. FISSURE CANYON - DAY

We're looking into a deep gorge, dark and sinister. A howling wind whips

dust into a sandstorm, reducing visibility to almost zero. About seventy

feet down there's a hole in the rock-face that just might be a cave entrance,

and near is a peculiar SHIMMERING in the air. We hear a mechanical BEEPING

and the SHIMMERING disappears, replaced by FIVE humanoid SHAPES clinging to

the sheer rock - each well over seven feet tall. They are PREDATORS, a race

of intergalactic big-game hunters on permanent safari; their clothing and

weaponry a bizarre mix of aborigine and ultra-hi-tech. In their hands are

circular metal discs; 'smart weapons' which cut into the stone and give them

purchase.

PREDATOR-VISION. From their P.O.V., we see the fissure reduced to THERMAL

HEAT SOURCES. The entrance registers as a black gaping void.

INT. FISSURE NEST TUNNEL

The five hunters climb inside the rim of the tunnel, out of the wind's

banshee wailing. The lead PREDATOR reaches up to his headgear, pulling at

the coupling pipes connecting it to a hidden breathing-apparatus. He removes

the helmet, clips it to his rear utility pack, and takes a deep breath of the

air. A curious speckled pattern runs across his wide forehead, marking him

different to the others; in addition, one of the fangs of his mandibles has

been sheared away. We'll call him BROKEN TUSK, he's the leader of the

hunting party. He reaches out a hand to caress the wall of the tunnel.

Several feet in from the rim, it changes from rock to a textured

biomechanical surface; a swirling mass of disturbing shapes. He hurries

forward in response to the GURGLING-HISS of one of his team who has found

something.

The other PREDATOR holds a telescopic spear up for scrutiny. Skewered on the

end is a shriveled FORM with eight spindly legs and a segmented tail; it's

a FACEHUGGER, the first stage of the deadly ALIEN lifeform. BROKEN TUSK

HISSES a caution to his party; they respond by pulling spears and

elaborately-shaped swords. Several shoulder-mounted plasma cannons slide up

to firing position, tracking with their owners' helmets. Thus armed, they

move cautiously ahead...taking no chances. One helmeted PREDATOR pauses,

scanning the area.

PREDATOR-VISION. He switches through a variety of different views; infra-

red, ultra-violet, enhanced motion-tracking. Nothing.

He's so pre-occupied with this task, he totally fails to notice the skeletal

ALIEN loom up behind him, emerging from the biomechanical growth on the

floor. A barbed tail skewers the PREDATOR straight through the neck,

splashing luminous blood across his chestplate. A gargled DEATH-RATTLE

issues from his throat, the band of PREDATORS spinning around in time to see

him being dragged below the ground. The band of extraterrestrial hunters

have no time to come to his aid; they themselves are set upon by a half-

dozen ALIEN WARRIORS. The carnage is swift and terrifying, a blur of motion.

Steel blades and serrated biomechanical limbs scythe the air, alive with the

CRIES and HISSES of both adversaries. One PREDATOR is pinned against the

tunnel wall, his spear out of range. The ALIEN claws away his face mask,

and he finds himself dodging the ALIEN's toothed tongue, extended toward him

with pile-driver speed. He reaches down, grasping the 'smart-weapon' hanging

from his belt and brings it up in an arc that terminates at the ALIEN's

grinning face. Big mistake. The two are in such close proximity that the

ALIEN's acidic blood sprays across the PREDATOR's head. While their

technology seems to be resistant to it, their bodies aren't: the viscous

yellow liquid begins burning into the PREDATOR's skin. He kicks the skeletal

corpse away with a HIDEOUS PIERCING SCREAM, clawing at his seared face.

It all seems to be over as quickly as it began; there can be no question as

to who were the victors. The PREDATORS stand amidst a sea of biomechanical

limbs strewn around like a charnel house. As his companions begin to

carefully decapitate the ALIEN skulls, BROKEN TUSK steps over the corpses

to examine his fallen comrades. The first PREDATOR to be attacked was killed

instantly; he crosses to the other. What he finds causes him to react with

pity and disgust. His fallen comrade is only just alive; mandibles clicking

frailly, half his head burnt away. BROKEN TUSK watches the ailing PREDATOR

slide a steel blade from it's sheath and offer it to him. He takes it,

knowing what has to be done. Rolling the knife quickly over the back of his

hand - the sort of elaborate trick seasoned Green Berets perform - he plunges

it downward into the fallen hunter. This unpleasant task accomplished,

BROKEN TUSK straightens up and activates his wrist-computer. A dark shape

blots out the light coming from the entrance; a small PREDATOR shuttlecraft,

sleek and elegant. It hovers in the air with little more than a loud HUM,

and extends a ramp. The surviving PREDATORS leap aboard, carrying their

trophies with the reserved silence of men returning from combat.

One more thing need to be done. BROKEN TUSK bends down and flips a sequence

of keys on the dead PREDATOR's wrist. A countdown is displayed in some

unknown character-set, accompanied by a HIGH PITCHED BEEPING. He then turns

and swiftly boards the craft which takes smoothly to the air, it's undergear

retracting.

EXT. PLANET SURFACE - DAY

A white-hot fireball erupts out of the fissure, the result of the PREDATOR's

suicide-destruct mechanism. The shuttlecraft pulls quickly away,

disappearing into the clouds.

EXT. SPACE

A large spacecraft is suspended in orbit around the planet; the PREDATOR

Mothership. The shuttle heads swiftly towards it.

INT. PREDATOR MOTHERSHIP - DOCKING BAY

An airlock RUMBLES open and the PREDATORS file NOISILY into the Mothership's

docking bay. An OLD PREDATOR crouched against a strut takes time out from

carving something into a block of wood to briefly look up at them. Like the

PREDATORS themselves, the ship is a curious mixture of old and new. An

elaborate frieze written in alien script runs around the wall, with racks of

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